By Divyanshi Sinha
In a high-stakes primetime address from the Oval Office, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that "core strategic objectives" in the month-long war with Iran are nearing completion. Despite the optimistic rhetoric, markets plummeted as the President stopped short of providing a concrete withdrawal timeline, instead warning of "extremely hard" strikes over the next three weeks if a final deal is not reached.
The conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, has entered a volatile new phase. Overnight, a "double strike" from Iran and Hezbollah targeted central Israel, with a missile hitting the city of Bnei Brak and damaging critical water infrastructure. Simultaneously, the U.S. Pentagon confirmed that two more MQ-9 Reaper drones were shot down over Iranian territory
While President Trump emphasized "decisive, overwhelming victories," the humanitarian and economic toll is mounting. The United Nations reports that regional GDP could shrink by up to 6% due to the escalation. Meanwhile, in Tehran, the Iranian government has reportedly begun a "total resistance" campaign, including the controversial recruitment of minors for city checkpoints. As oil prices surge and global supply chains fracture, the international community remains skeptical of a swift conclusion. European leaders, particularly in the UK and France, have voiced growing concern that the conflict's "unpredictable endgame" poses a generational threat to global stability.
