Tensions continued to rise across West Asia on Tuesday, with incidents reported in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, according to media reports.

In Iraq, an armed group claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel in Erbil. As reported by Al Jazeera, the group alleged that the hotel houses US troops. No further details were immediately available about the extent of the damage or casualties.

In Saudi Arabia, the Defence Ministry said that eight drones were intercepted and destroyed near the cities of Riyadh and Al-Kharj. According to Al Arabiya, the drones were brought down before they could reach their intended targets. The Saudi authorities did not provide more details about who launched the drones.

Meanwhile, in Lebanon, the IRNA News Agency reported that Israel attacked the headquarters of Al-Manar, a broadcaster affiliated with Hezbollah. According to IRNA, Al-Manar resumed its programmes just minutes after the strike was reported.

Earlier, Israel had said that the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence arm was killed in an overnight strike. Beirut also stated that it would ban the military activities of the group.

The Israel Defence Forces confirmed that the overnight strike in the Lebanese capital killed Hussein Makled. The IDF described him as “the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters.”

The developments come at a time of heightened hostilities in West Asia. Cross-border strikes and aerial interceptions have increased concerns about a wider regional spillover of the conflict.

On Monday (local time), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported the joint US-Israeli military action against Iran under Operation Epic Fury, also referred to as Roaring Lion. In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu defended the action, saying it was necessary to protect several nations.

“It’s not a terrible thing to protect humanity, to protect America, to protect Israel, to protect the free world from this theological thuggery. These fanatics who don't care -- who just export death, mass death, everywhere,” Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Affairs Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi criticised the United States, accusing it of entering a “war of choice” on behalf of Israel. His remarks followed comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who defended recent American military action against Iran and spoke about what he described as threats posed by Tehran.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Araghchi said, “Rubio admitted what we all knew: U.S. has entered a war of choice on behalf of Israel. There was never any so-called Iranian ‘threat’.”

He further stated, “Shedding of both American and Iranian blood is thus on Israel Firsters. The American people deserve better and should take back their country.”

Araghchi’s comments came after Rubio explained that the US military operation was aimed at eliminating threats related to Iran’s short-range ballistic missiles and its naval capabilities. He said these posed risks, especially to global shipping routes.

Speaking to the press on Capitol Hill on Monday (local time), Rubio said, “That is the clear objective of this mission,” and added that the focus was on preventing a possible threat to the US and its allies.

Rubio made it clear that the primary goal of the operation was to neutralise Iran’s ballistic missile and naval threats. He stressed that the action was intended to prevent danger to American interests and partner nations.

The series of incidents across Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, along with strong statements from leaders on all sides, reflects the growing tensions in the region. With drone interceptions, targeted strikes and political accusations continuing, concerns remain about further escalation in West Asia.