TEHRAN – Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Sunday that the country’s forces could fight an intense war for six months against the United States and Israel, which said it struck Tehran’s commanders at a seaside hotel in the heart of Beirut.

A new coalition government led by Bhumjaithai will exclude the Klatham and Democrat parties, sources say.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly the looming threat of a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, is casting a long shadow over the economy.

The post-election political landscape has entered a delicate new phase after voters endorsed the first step towards constitutional change in a referendum held alongside the Feb 8 general election — a victory claimed by the People’s Party.

A controversy has erupted over the strict rules set for those taking the exam for admission to Matthayom Suksa 4 (Grade 10) at a prestigious Bangkok school after some students had to discard cash in trash bins, raising concerns that some might have no money to travel home.

Commercial airline pilots have faced escalating risks in recent years, from drone incursions to flight paths squeezed by conflict. Now the US-Israeli attacks on Iran are making the skies even more perilous and ratcheting up the pressure on ​those flying through them.