Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. is 'postured defensively' as more warplanes and a massive aircraft carrier moved to the region.

(Reuters) -Russia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denounced continued Israeli attacks on Iran as illegal and said a solution to the conflict over Tehran's nuclear programme could only be found through diplomacy.

Conservative and progressive lawmakers want to force a vote on a resolution requiring the administration to seek congressional approval before going to war in the Middle East.

Since shortly after it was founded in 1948, Israel has been intent on building a nuclear program to ensure its survival.

Israel and Iran have attacked each other for a fifth straight day on Tuesday with President Donald Trump urging Iranians to evacuate Tehran. Since the Israeli strikes on Friday, the two Middle Eastern rivals have exchanged blows, with Iranian officials reporting more than 220 deaths, mostly civilians, while Israel said 24 civilians had been killed.

The conflict between Israel and Iran has forced many countries in the Middle East to close their airspace, as Israeli jets and Iranian exploding drones and missiles fly over their night skies.

Hezbollah, Iran’s most powerful regional ally, has signaled privately that it does not intend to attack Israel, but Lebanon’s military has bolstered its presence in the country’s south to prevent rocket fire.