Military operations in the Middle East continue, escalating tensions in the region and causing international concern. Military strikes and retaliations by both sides—the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other—continue to affect not only the countries of the region, but also the global economic situation.

Armenian News-NEWS.am presents below a brief overview of the main events that took place in the Middle East on Wednesday evening

President Donald Trump declared that the US is not done yet when asked about the timeline for war with Iran. He had previously said that the war would end soon.

“We don’t want to leave early, do we?” Trump told a rally in Kentucky. “We don’t want to go back every two years. We’re going to finish the job.” Israeli forces struck southern Beirut and other targets in Lebanon on Wednesday night in response to a new massive attack by Hezbollah on northern Israel.

Two oil tankers caught fire off the Iraqi coast near the port of Basra, killing one person. Iranian state media reported that the tankers were attacked by underwater drones.

The US will release 172 million barrels of oil from its strategic oil reserves to help reduce oil prices, which have soared due to oil delivery disruptions caused by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The UN Security Council has voted in favor of a resolution condemning Iran’s attacks on the Gulf states and Jordan. Thirteen Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution, while Russia and China abstained.