Day 26: Netanyahu rejects Trump's delay and continues attacks. Brent falls below $100, but the war is not over

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening in a televised address that Israel would continue its attacks on Iran and Lebanon — despite the fact that US President Donald Trump had, only a few hours earlier, ordered a five-day delay on strikes against Iranian power plants. "We are destroying the missile program and the nuclear program, and we are continuing heavy strikes on Hezbollah," Netanyahu declared. Iranian military adviser Mohsen Rezaei responded by claiming that "the war was practically over" more than a week ago and that the United States had been ready for a ceasefire, but Netanyahu "pushed to continue." Al Jazeera ↗ CNN ↗

Trump's original 48-hour ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz expired on Monday at 23:44 GMT without any result. Iran did not open the strait, and instead of the promised destruction of the power plants, Trump merely pushed the deadline back by five days. His announcement had a dramatic effect on oil markets: the price of Brent crude fell by almost 11 percent on Monday to $99.94 per barrel — the first time it dropped below the psychological threshold of $100 since the beginning of March. American WTI crude fell by more than 10 percent to $88.13. However, analysts warn that the relief is temporary — as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, the world is losing 15 to 20 million barrels of oil per day. CNBC ↗ Al Jazeera ↗

On the Lebanese front, Israel continues the systematic destruction of infrastructure. On Monday evening it struck another bridge connecting southern Lebanon with the Bekaa Valley, continuing to cut off the south of the country. More than 1,000 people have died in Lebanon since March 2, and more than 2,800 have been injured. Israeli Finance Minister Smotrich has repeatedly called for the annexation of southern Lebanon. According to CNN, Hezbollah is still active, but it is only a shadow of the force it was before the conflict began. CNN ↗ Al Jazeera ↗

The human toll of the war is deepening. According to Iran's Ministry of Health, the number of casualties in Iran has exceeded 1,500, while the American organization HRANA reports at least 1,047 civilians, including 214 children. Iran's Red Crescent reports more than 80,000 residential buildings affected. So far, 13 American soldiers and 15 people in Israel have died in the conflict. In Tehran, Iranians are gathering in panic at gas stations to fill up on fuel — expecting the situation to worsen further. NBC News ↗ Al Jazeera ↗

In Washington, opposition to the continuation of the war is growing. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for an end to the military operation. According to CNN, Trump faces "the hardest wartime decision" — whether to deploy ground forces in Iran. Polls show that the American public is clearly opposed — and the idea is "completely unacceptable" even to part of the Republican base. Thirteen American soldiers have been killed, while Trump claims that negotiations are "very productive," and Iran denies that any are taking place at all. CNN ↗ NPR ↗

The war is entering its fifth week in a paradoxical situation. Trump has announced a delay and talks of peace, yet Israel continues unprecedented airstrikes. Iran denies negotiations, yet is not launching any new major retaliatory attacks. Oil markets are reacting to hope, but analysts warn that the five-day delay solves nothing — it merely postpones the crisis. The question hanging in the air: who is actually running this war? Trump, who changes ultimatums hour by hour? Netanyahu, who ignores the American president? Or no one — with the conflict simply hurtling forward on its own momentum? NPR ↗ Bloomberg ↗