"Israel is being assisted this way or that way by some Iranians," ex-Israeli National Security chief Giora Eiland told Newsweek.

Israel and Iran both have little incentive to stop and no obvious route to outright victory. Much depends on President Trump.

The aerial war between Israel and Iran has been playing out over the skies of the Levant, prompting concerns in each country about its effects on internal stability and their strategic position.Iraq has condemned the Israeli strikes on Friday that ignited the war.

Kataib Hezbollah is part of a coalition of Iran-aligned groups known collectively as the "Axis of Resistance" — an umbrella of hardline Shi'ite armed factions that have claimed more than 150 attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the onset of the Gaza war about 20 months ago.

Iraq was already facing a crisis prior to the Israeli airstrikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliation. In May, the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq sent a delegation to Washington to sign energy deals that could be worth up to $110 billion with HKN Energy and WesternZagros.

Israel's first open offensive on Iran marks a dramatic turn in a long, complex history. Before Iran's 1979 revolution, the two were close allies, trading arms, oil, and intelligence. The Shah saw Israel as a key partner against Arab rivals.

The Iraqi prime minister urged the international community and the United States to play their roles in preventing Israel's assault.

The United States advised Americans not to travel to Israel after another wave of Iranian missile attacks struck the country.