Israel has increased its regional military operations in Southern Lebanon and the  capital, Beirut by launching strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure. Simultaneously, joint US and Israeli air strikes have caused significant destruction in Tehran, where rescue crews are searching through rubble and residents report a climate of extreme anxiety, rising prices, and shuttered businesses. At sea, the conflict has turned deadly with eight seafarers killed and thousands stranded in the Persian Gulf, while Iran’s deputy foreign minister has warned that nations joining the aggression will be denied safe passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.