Canada: A rapidly intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran has sent shockwaves across the globe, emerging as the central issue at the ongoing G7 summit in Canada. Over the past four days, Israel has launched a series of powerful airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and military facilities, triggering a deadly exchange of retaliatory missile attacks.
At least 224 people have been killed in Iran due to the Israeli strikes, the majority of them civilians, while Iran has fired daytime missiles into major Israeli cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Bat Yam, killing at least ten people. The daylight nature of Iran's counterstrike marks a new and dangerous shift in tactics, signaling an erosion of prior conflict norms that mostly avoided populated urban centers during daylight hours.
The spiraling violence has become a top concern for world leaders gathered at the G7 summit. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated unequivocally that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons remains a top priority. He emphasized that Israel has the right to self-defense but also called for an immediate de-escalation through diplomatic efforts. Other G7 members expressed alarm over the conflict’s regional implications and its potential to drag other Middle Eastern countries into a broader war.
Israel’s strikes also targeted key Iranian oil and gas infrastructure, setting off large-scale fires and crippling export capacity. These attacks sent Brent crude prices surging, exposing the world economy to yet another energy shock. With global inflationary pressures already straining governments, this economic fallout adds to the urgency of diplomatic intervention.
In a surprising twist, former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed he had intervened to stop an Israeli plan to assassinate Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While reaffirming his support for Israel, Trump warned Iran against escalating further or targeting U.S. assets. His remarks hint at deep divisions within the Israeli leadership and a growing international unease about the conflict’s long-term implications.
Iran has pulled out of planned nuclear negotiations and rejected all ceasefire proposals, blaming Israel’s continued aerial assault. Diplomatic efforts by Qatar and Oman are reportedly in limbo as both sides dig in. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched what analysts are calling “Operation Rising Lion,” a campaign targeting high-level Iranian military and nuclear assets. Senior Iranian commanders have already been killed in the strikes, underscoring the operation’s intensity.
International observers warn the situation may spiral into a full-blown regional war, with the potential to involve Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian militias in Syria and Iraq, and even disrupt maritime routes in the Persian Gulf. The civilian toll continues to climb, and aid agencies are now struggling to provide relief under mounting security threats.
With diplomacy faltering and both sides escalating their military campaigns, the world stands at a dangerous crossroads. The decisions made by G7 leaders in the coming days could determine whether the conflict is contained—or allowed to erupt into one of the most destabilizing wars of the 21st century. As military strikes continue and diplomatic channels grow silent, the clock ticks ominously toward deeper chaos in the Middle East.