Israel Warns of Escalation in Iran Conflict as U.S. Delays Strait of Hormuz Deadline

AP, March 27, 2026, Dubai : Israel warned Friday it will expand its attacks on Iran as Tehran kept firing missiles at Israel and Gulf Arab nations. The U.S. military also continued striking Iran, while President Donald Trump delayed his threat to obliterate Iran’s energy plants over its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Israel has moved thousands of troops across the border into Lebanon, where Israeli officials said they want to take control of the entire area south of the Litani River — some 20 miles (about 30 kilometres) north of the border.

Facing a convulsing stock market, Trump on Thursday extended a deadline for reopening the Strait of Hormuz until April 6, saying Iran asked for the grace period and that talks were going “very well,” despite the fact Iran continues to publicly insist it is not negotiating with the White House on a 15-point proposal to end the conflict.

The war has killed more than 1,900 people in Iran and nearly 1,100 in Lebanon. Eighteen people have died in Israel, while four Israeli soldiers have also been killed in Lebanon. Thirteen U.S. military members have died, as well as a number of civilians on land and sea in the Gulf region. Millions of people in Lebanon and Iran have been displaced.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes were seen flying over the Lebanese capital Friday afternoon as they conducted strikes on its southern suburbs. The Israeli military said it has begun a wave of strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut.

On the other hand, of the total U.S. troops wounded to date, 273 service members have returned to duty, said Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesman for U.S. Central Command.

That leaves 30 troops wounded and out of action, with 10 still considered seriously wounded, Hawkins said. Since the war in Iran began, 13 U.S. service members have been killed in combat.