Israel-Iran Conflict Escalates Amid Gulf States De-Escalation Efforts

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated significantly due to Israel's military campaign against Iran, prompting rare public concern from Gulf states, including the UAE, which oppose war and regime change despite normalization with Israel. Iran has retaliated against Israeli and American strikes by targeting major Israeli cities and a key US military base in Qatar, marking a dangerous expansion of the conflict into the Gulf region. Hezbollah's secretary general described Israel as a strategic threat to Muslims, Christians, and Jews, emphasizing the group's refusal to disarm and underscoring Israel's destabilizing impact on regional and global peace. Meanwhile, Bahrain's prominent cleric condemned US President Donald Trump's threats against Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, framing them as offensive to all Muslims and calling for respect to advance any potential deal with Iran. An American anti-war activist criticized the US and Israel as the greatest threats to humanity, accusing the US government of perpetuating wars for profit and fascist control. These developments highlight a complex geopolitical conflict involving military aggression, regional alliances, religious rhetoric, and international condemnation amid fears of broader escalation.