The conflict in the Middle East intensified on Thursday after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States should play a role in selecting Iran’s next leader, while Israel ordered residents of southern Beirut to evacuate ahead of potential military strikes.

The developments come as the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States expands across multiple fronts, raising fears of a broader regional conflict affecting the Middle East and beyond.

Trump calls for U.S. influence in Iran’s leadership transition

In comments reported Thursday, Trump said Washington should be involved in choosing the successor to Iran’s late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a recent airstrike in Tehran amid escalating hostilities.

Trump argued that the United States must ensure Iran’s future leadership does not continue the policies of the previous government.

“We want someone that will bring harmony and peace to Iran,” Trump said, while also dismissing the possibility of Khamenei’s son becoming the next supreme leader.

Under Iran’s constitution, the country’s Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body, is responsible for selecting the next supreme leader. Officials have indicated the process may already be close to completion as the country grapples with war and political instability.

The comments have sparked debate internationally, with critics warning that direct foreign influence in Iran’s leadership transition could further inflame tensions.

Israel orders evacuation in southern Beirut

Meanwhile, Israel issued evacuation orders for residents in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a densely populated area believed to be a stronghold of the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.

The Israeli military instructed civilians to move north and east of the area, warning that remaining in the zone could put their lives at risk.

The evacuation order triggered panic and heavy traffic as thousands of residents attempted to flee the area. Local reports described crowded roads, gunfire in parts of the suburb of Dahiyeh, and disruptions near Beirut’s international airport.

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli strikes earlier this week have already killed more than 100 people in Lebanon, including several children.

War spreads across the region

The fighting is part of a wider conflict that erupted after a series of Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted Iranian military infrastructure and leadership positions across Iran.

The killing of Khamenei dramatically escalated tensions and prompted retaliatory actions from Iranian-aligned groups throughout the region. Hezbollah launched attacks against Israel shortly afterward, leading to Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon.

The war has also disrupted regional stability, with missile attacks, drone strikes and military operations reported across several countries.

Officials say the conflict has already resulted in more than 1,000 deaths in Iran, over 100 in Lebanon, and casualties in Israel and among U.S. forces.

Growing fears of wider regional escalation

International observers warn that the conflict could widen further if diplomatic efforts fail.

Iran has accused the United States of entering the war on Israel’s behalf and vowed retaliation, while Western governments have urged restraint and called for urgent diplomatic talks to prevent further escalation.

Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies report mass displacement as civilians flee major cities amid ongoing airstrikes and military operations.

With tensions continuing to rise and no immediate ceasefire in sight, analysts warn that the Middle East may be entering one of its most dangerous periods in years.

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