[Anchor]
Let’s assess the situation in the Middle East.
Now in its fourth week, the war is escalating: strikes are being exchanged, and attacks have even targeted nuclear facilities.
Analysts warn this week could mark a critical turning point.
We now go to our correspondent in Egypt, reporting near Israel’s border.
Park Hyun-woo, go ahead.
[Reporter]
I’m in Cairo, Egypt.
It’s just before noon here.
Israel, the United States and Iran have each warned of major strikes this week. Many in the region are calling it a decisive week.
Air-raid sirens sounded across Israel again this morning.
Local media say evacuation orders were issued in parts of northern Israel, and Iranian ballistic missiles were detected in the south.
Overnight, Iran launched multiple cluster munitions into the region.
Those munitions — large warheads that disperse submunitions in flight — were reported over Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Officials and local outlets report structural damage to buildings but have not confirmed any casualties from those strikes.
Airstrikes also struck targets in the Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported three missiles headed toward the capital Riyadh. Near Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, a bulk carrier was hit by a projectile and exploded.
In Baghdad, attackers carried out eight rocket and drone strikes against U.S. diplomatic and logistics facilities at the international airport, according to reports.
[Anchor]
Israel also carried out retaliatory strikes.
What is Israel reporting about its response?
[Reporter]
Israel moved quickly with retaliatory airstrikes.
Local reporting says the Israeli military launched a broad air campaign aimed at Tehran.
Iran’s state-run Fars news agency reported strikes in five Tehran districts and explosions across the city.
In northwest Iran, a residential building collapsed. In the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, an attack on a state radio transmitter killed one person and wounded another, Iranian authorities said.
Israel has also stepped up ground operations in Lebanon, targeting the Iran-backed militia Hezbollah and striking infrastructure.
Yesterday, Israeli aircraft struck the Kasmiya bridge over the Litani River in southern Lebanon.
Israeli officials say Hezbollah used the bridge to move thousands of rockets, weapons, launchers and fighters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly ordered the destruction of that bridge and all bridges across the Litani. Israeli strikes on Lebanese bridges are expected to continue.
With Iranian drone attacks ongoing, U.S. forces released footage of airstrikes that destroyed Iranian unmanned aerial systems.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on social media that Iran’s drones have indiscriminately targeted civilians and that U.S. forces are continuing to neutralize the Iranian regime’s “suicide drones.”
[Anchor]
With the deadline on the ultimatum President Trump issued drawing near, Iran has signaled it could retaliate, raising tensions further.
[Reporter]
That is correct.
President Trump set a 48-hour deadline and issued his ultimatum at roughly 8:44 a.m. yesterday, Korean time.
As of now, about 14 hours remain on that deadline.
Trump warned he would “flatten” Iran’s power plants if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran replied that, if its power plants are attacked, it will retaliate by targeting power plants that supply electricity to Israel and to U.S. bases in the region.
State-affiliated Iranian media have circulated a poster naming 10 power stations as potential targets, including the Barakah nuclear plant in Abu Dhabi — the first overseas nuclear power plant contracted to South Korea and one familiar to Korean audiences.
Some analysts have raised the possibility that U.S. ground forces could land and seize Kharg Island. Iran has warned that if the U.S. launches such an attack, it would lay mines across the entire Gulf shipping lanes.
As President Trump’s deadline approaches, the risk of wider escalation across the Middle East is rising.
This is Park Hyun-woo reporting for Yonhap News TV in Cairo.
[Live connection: Mun Won-chul]
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Park Hyun-woo (hwp@yna.co.kr)
