Conflict with Iran: Attacks on Embassies and Fighting in the Gulf of Oman

The war between the US-Israeli coalition and the Islamic Republic of Iran has entered a new, destructive phase that extends beyond the borders of both states. Latest reports confirm that two drones struck the United States embassy in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, causing damage to the building's structure. Simultaneously, Tehran announced it had carried out a "massive" retaliatory strike on a key US military base, a direct response to intense bombings of Iranian command centers. The US command, in turn, announced a spectacular success in the strategic region, claiming that the Iranian fleet operating in the Gulf of Oman has been almost completely neutralized. These actions aim to cut Iran off from maritime trade routes and secure the transport of energy resources, although the risk of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains extremely high. The Gulf of Oman and the nearby Strait of Hormuz have been the most sensitive point in global oil trade for decades. Already in the 1980s, during the so-called "Tanker War" between Iran and Iraq, the region witnessed numerous attacks on commercial ships, which forced the direct intervention of the US Navy under the codename Earnest Will. Within Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite the country's progressing militarization and the lack of clear internal opposition to the conflict, predicts that the war will paradoxically lead to the signing of many new peace treaties with Arab states after the overthrow of the regime in Tehran. Meanwhile, residents of Israeli cities, such as Beit Shemesh, are grappling with the consequences of modern Iranian ballistic missiles penetrating air defense systems. The situation is complicated by the stance of external powers; China has taken radical steps to secure its massive investments in Iran, following reports of the death of the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei. The succession in Tehran is taking place under wartime conditions, which amplifies decision-making chaos and makes Iran's military response increasingly unpredictable and dispersed, including attacks on targets in Qatar and the Emirates. „This was our last chance to strike Iran and we are going to keep it going for as long as it takes.” — Donald Trump This conflict also has a technological and informational dimension, described by commentators as a "war in cyber trenches." Both Israel and the US are using the latest precision strike systems, which have been tested for the first time in real-world conditions on Iranian territory. Tehran, despite declarations of possessing a powerful drone fleet, is facing the fact of their physical destruction by superior allied forces. The international community is watching with concern the rising number of casualties on the American side, which may prompt the Washington administration to further escalate actions, including special operations on the ground. The ongoing mobilization in Israel and troop movements in the Persian Gulf region suggest the conflict will not end in the coming days but will turn into a prolonged campaign with geopolitical consequences for the entire world that are difficult to predict.