Tel Aviv finds itself under attack once again as Iran escalates the conflict with another round of ballistic missiles. It is almost as if the Iranians took a page out of a misguided manual on making friends and influencing people—by launching rockets. Israel’s air defense systems, which are truly among the best, do their level best to intercept the incoming fire, proving they’re not just for show. This fresh barrage follows a series of Israeli airstrikes targeted at Iran’s South Pars gas field, a location that fuels Iran and Qatar, literally. Despite attempts for restraint, it appears both nations are now involved in a vigorous spat that has caught the world’s attention because nothing quite says “stability” like a multilateral missile exchange.

Speaking of gas fields, Iran retaliated by targeting Qatar, hitting the industrial city of Razan, which hosts the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export facility. Damage from these attacks has caused quite a ruckus in the energy world, though luckily, two out of three fires have been controlled. So one could say they’re being terrifically efficient with their fires. Meanwhile, President Trump has taken to social media, as he does, to comment on the situation, raising eyebrows about future implications. The escalation ladder, a term apparently borrowed from the world’s most dangerous board game, is indeed a major concern.

Amidst these tensions, Israel experienced tragic losses with four innocent lives taken. This includes three women in a West Bank salon and another individual from central Israel, alarmingly highlighting the conflict’s reach into civilian areas. While the Israeli Defense is praised for its high-tech prowess, it turns out that not every missile can be intercepted, especially those crafty cluster ones designed for maximum chaos. Iran’s intent appears clear as they target population centers, putting all holy sites in Jerusalem under lockdown. It’s as if they are deliberately aiming to stir up every possible hornet’s nest in the region, just for the fun of it.

Here’s where it gets particularly juicy: the new Supreme Leader of Iran, Mustava Kami, is reportedly described by some security sources as an “empty entity”. Given Iran’s political turmoil, it seems they are in search of someone less empty. Israeli and U.S. strategies, supposedly supporting Iran’s civilians to overthrow an unpopular regime, could be the perfect recipe for instability. As internal fractures in Iran continue to widen, the question remains: who will fill the power vacuum in this real-life political thriller? Perhaps it will be someone with a bit more mettle than an “empty” placeholder.

The United States remains on high alert, as any Boy Scout troop would be, knowing that Tehran isn’t quite finished yet. Attacks are expected not just on Israel, but possibly on various gulf countries—including a good portion of the world that relies heavily on oil and gas flowing smoothly. While Iran’s conventional military power might be degraded, their penchant for mischief appears fully intact. Meanwhile, back in Washington, intelligence leaders face the pressing task of resolving the mix of facts and fiction that surrounds threats from various international foes. With the world stage set for another round of chaotic theatrics, one can only hope cooler heads prevail—or at least that someone remembers to turn off the missile launchers.