Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - The U.S. has carried out further strikes on what it described as “multiple targets” in Iran, deepening the confrontation as efforts to contain the conflict remain fragile. At the same time, Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun said he hopes the United States will press Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanese areas still under Israeli control.

According to reports, the latest strikes were part of a renewed round of attacks after Washington said it was responding to escalating fire and threats tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis. U.S. military officials said the operation hit multiple targets across Iran, while earlier coverage said the attacks came amid stalled diplomacy and warnings from President Donald Trump that Tehran would “pay the price” if the situation escalated further. The strikes underscore how quickly the conflict has widened from maritime tensions into broader military exchanges.

In Lebanon, President Aoun renewed his call for Israeli withdrawal from the south, saying Beirut wants Washington to help enforce the ceasefire terms and push Israel to pull back from remaining positions. Lebanese officials have repeatedly said the country’s army should be allowed to deploy fully once Israeli forces leave, and that continued Israeli presence violates Lebanon’s sovereignty and the truce arrangements. Aoun’s appeal reflects growing frustration in Beirut as the south remains tense despite repeated diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and others.

The twin developments show how the West Asia crisis remains split between a widening U.S-Iran military confrontation and unresolved pressure on Israel-Lebanon frontlines. With strikes continuing in Iran and Israeli withdrawal still contested in Lebanon, regional diplomacy faces another difficult test.