US-Israel war on Iran: What’s happening on day 27 of attacks?

The US and Israel’s war on Iran is intensifying, as Trump again claims Iranian leaders want to ‘make a deal’.

War diplomacy

• EU pressure on Russia: The EU accused Russia of providing intelligence support to Iran in the war to “kill Americans”, calling on the US to increase pressure on Moscow. “We see that Russia is helping Iran with intelligence to target Americans, to kill Americans, and Russia is also supporting Iran now with the drones so that they can attack neighbouring countries and also US military bases,” the European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said.
• ‘Nothing from NATO’:  “NATO nations have done absolutely nothing to help with the lunatic nation, now militarily decimated, of Iran,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform.
• NATO alignment:  Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, has called for NATO allies to develop a “common position” with the US, citing unified stances between Germany, France, and the UK before talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a G7 meeting.
• Regional Condemnation: Iran is facing a diplomatic backlash in the region. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General al-Budaiwi condemned Iran’s military actions and its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, stating that Tehran has “overcome all red lines.”

In the Gulf

• Hezbollah plot uncovered in Kuwait: Authorities arrested six people allegedly linked to Hezbollah, accused of planning assassinations in the Gulf state, Kuwait’s Interior Ministry said.
• Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry on Thursday morning announced the interception and destruction of a drone in the Eastern Province. Saudi air defence systems intercepted and destroyed at least two dozen drones targeting the Eastern Province, home to the majority of the kingdom’s oil facilities, on Wednesday.
• Bahrain: A fire broke out at a facility in the Muharraq Governorate due to what the Interior Ministry described as “Iranian aggression”.
• United Arab Emirates: The UAE’s Defence Ministry said on Thursday that its air defence systems have been actively responding to and intercepting incoming missiles and drones from Iran.

In the US

• Extremely’ ahead of schedule’:  Trump said Thursday that US military operations against Iran are “extremely” ahead of schedule, citing an original timeframe of four to six weeks for the war that began nearly a month ago.
• Trump says Iran wants a deal: Trump again claims Iranian leaders want to “make a deal so badly” but are afraid to say so “because they figure they’ll be killed by their own people”.
• Trump threatens ‘hell’ if no deal: Trump is ready to “unleash hell” on Iran if Tehran does not accept a deal to end the war, the White House warned on Wednesday.
• Strategic posturing: Jason Campbell, a former Pentagon official, said US threats to “hit Iran harder” are more about signalling than intensifying attacks.
• Intentional vagueness: Campbell told Al Jazeera that Trump is deliberately omitting specific details because he wants the Iranian regime to believe the US is fully capable and willing to execute these harsher attacks.

In Israel

• Missile salvoes: Israel’s army on Thursday morning said it had detected a wave of missiles from Iran heading towards the country, the second salvo in less than 30 minutes.
• Rockets and missiles targeting Israel: Iranian missiles continue to target central and northern Israel. Additionally, Hezbollah has fired volleys of rockets into the Western Galilee region.

In Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen

• Gulf issues Iraq demand: Gulf states and Jordan have urged Iraq to stop attacks by pro-Iran armed groups from its territory.
• Ground clashes with Hezbollah: Israeli troops have crossed the border into Lebanese territory and are actively engaging in ground combat. Hezbollah says its fighters are continuing to clash with invading Israeli troops in south Lebanon.
• Defending Lebanese soil: Hezbollah’s Secretary-General Naim Qassem stated that the group is now in a war against both the US and Israel and will do everything it can to defend Lebanese territory.
• Yemen’s Houthi rebels: Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, leader of Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, warned on Thursday of a “military response” should the war require it. “As the people of Yemen, we repay loyalty with loyalty,” the Houthi leader said. “Any development in the battle that requires a military response, we will promptly undertake it … just as we did in previous rounds.”

Oil markets and food

• Oil prices climb: Oil prices have climbed higher amid fading hopes of de-escalation in the US-Israel war on Iran following Tehran’s rejection that talks with the US are under way.
• Food supply shocks: Antony Currie, a columnist for Breakingviews, warned that the war on Iran will likely have a more severe impact on global food security than Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.