Week six—and the war is widening, not ending. Cities targeted, infrastructure threatened. Where does this stop?
TEL AVIV / TEHRAN — The war between Iran, the United States and Israel has entered its sixth week with no sign of de-escalation, as airstrikes deepen inside Iranian territory and missile fire continues to reach Israeli towns, underscoring a conflict expanding in both scope and risk.
Iranian state media reported that U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Qassem Soleimani International Airport in Ahvaz, a key facility in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. Local officials described the strike as part of a sustained campaign against strategic infrastructure. Additional attacks were reported near Isfahan, where Iranian sources said at least five people were killed, while explosions in Karaj—near Tehran—highlighted the growing proximity of strikes to the capital.
The U.S. military, through United States Central Command, released footage showing the interception and destruction of Iranian drones it said were targeting American personnel across the region.
Iran responded with missile launches toward Israel. Air defense systems intercepted projectiles over Haifa, according to Israeli authorities, though debris fell in multiple locations. Sirens sounded across northern and southern Israel, reflecting the continued reach of Iran’s retaliatory capabilities despite weeks of sustained bombardment.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz signaled a further escalation, warning that Israel would intensify strikes on Iranian leadership, military assets and critical infrastructure if attacks persist. His remarks point to a strategy that increasingly blends battlefield pressure with targeted decapitation of command structures.
At the same time, Donald Trump renewed threats to expand the conflict’s scope, warning that U.S. forces could strike Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The warning marks a potential shift toward targeting infrastructure with civilian impact—raising the stakes of an already volatile conflict.
Since the war began on February 28, both sides have broadened their targeting frameworks. U.S. and Israeli operations have focused on degrading Iran’s missile systems, industrial base and command networks. Iran, in turn, has pursued a strategy of distributed retaliation, using missiles and drones to strike Israel and regional actors while maintaining pressure on global energy routes.
The result is a war without a clear off-ramp.
The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains a central flashpoint, amplifying economic risks and increasing the likelihood of wider international involvement. Meanwhile, the geographic spread of strikes—from Ahvaz to Haifa—signals a shift toward deeper, more sustained confrontation.
Six weeks in, the trajectory is clear: diplomacy is absent, escalation is accelerating, and the conflict is moving toward a broader and more dangerous phase.
