CONFLICT ENTERS FOURTH DAY: Israel and Iran have begun a new round of attacks, as the conflict between the two heavily armed rivals enters its fourth day.

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

President Donald Trump is desperate not to fight a war with Iran. But can he really avoid it? Compelling national security arguments and domestic political considerations mean it makes sense to stop short of direct US offensive operations in the long-dreaded conflict that Israel describes as a matter of preserving its own existence.

It follows daytime attacks from both sides, with Israeli strikes in Tehran continuing and Iran firing more missiles towards Israel.

This is the second time President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have spoken on the phone this month.

Israel’s attack on Iran was long in the making – the result of years of meticulous planning by Israel and days of high-stakes talks between Tel Aviv and Washington, officials told CNN.

Israel's bombing of Iranian targets ignites political clash as Democrats, Republicans, and media figures debate Netanyahu's actions and Trump's Middle East influence

President Trump is trapped between the “America First” isolationists and others in his party who are cheering on Israel’s strikes against Iran.