Israel, Hezbollah, and Iran are trading strikes while Trump pushes for a deal — bad news for the region's stability and for civilians caught in the middle.

• Israel hit Hezbollah and Lebanon, Iran fired back at an Israeli base, Israel struck Tehran, then Trump told Netanyahu to knock it off.
• Trump is frustrated with Netanyahu but treats him like a powerful father scolding a son who never faces real consequences.
• Israel won't accept any deal unless Iran's nuclear program is ended and its IRGC militia is dismantled, so it keeps blocking a quick ceasefire.
• Iran wants a deal, not real peace, after losing its top leaders, leaving only two paths: agreement or wider war.
• A heated side fight broke out over whether Israel's bombing or Hezbollah and radical clerics are to blame for Lebanon's shrinking Christian population.

Outlook: Expect more start-and-stop fighting as Trump tries to broker a deal that Israel is in no hurry to sign.