US-Iran-Israel war: major strikes, air alerts and militia claims: what’s happening now?

Dramatic escalation: A series of military and security developments across the Middle East marked a sharp uptick in regional tensions overnight and into Sunday, following intense operations involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

As of Sunday morning, local and international media reports are saying that the Iranian air defences have been activated. Iranian state-linked media reported that air defence systems were activated over Bandar Abbas in southern Iran, underscoring widespread alert across Iranian territory amid ongoing hostilities.

Meanwhile, sirens have been sounded in southern Israel. In Israel’s southern port city of Eilat, air-raid sirens sounded after what Israeli forces described as a suspected drone infiltration. Israeli military sources said intercepts were carried out, although full details are still emerging.

There have also been claims of attacks on US facilities. Armed Iraqi militia factions aligned with Tehran have claimed responsibility for a drone operation targeting facilities with US forces in and around Erbil in northern Iraq. While independent verification is pending, such claims emerge amid a broader pattern of militia rhetoric and strikes following the wider conflict.

Iranian Revolutionary Guard has signaled retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has publicly stated its intention to launch attacks against Israeli targets and US bases across the region in response to recent Western strikes on Iranian soil. These remarks come as Iran vows to intensify its military response to assaults that have hit key leadership and defensive infrastructure.

Background context: The latest flare-up follows coordinated US–Israeli aerial operations reported to have struck multiple high-value targets inside Iran, including leadership compounds and air-defence positions. Iran’s leadership has reportedly suffered significant casualties in these strikes, and Tehran has since launched a series of counter-attacks using missiles and drones aimed at Israeli territory and U.S. installations throughout the Gulf.

Security environment continues to deteriorate. Regional airspace disruptions, militia threats in Iraq and alerts inside Israel all point to an intensifying conflict that shows no signs of abating. Independent confirmation of some militia attacks and official assessments of damage remain limited, but the overall pattern suggests escalation that could draw in additional regional actors.

Reports are continuing to develop, and further details may emerge as authorities on all sides issue official statements.