The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah was long considered Iran’s first line of defense in case of a war with Israel.

An Iranian lawmaker said closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in the global energy trade, was under serious consideration.

JERUSALEM/DUBAI >> Israel pounded Iran for a second day today and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said its campaign would intensify dramatically, while Tehran called off nuclear talks that Washington had held out as the only way to halt the bombing.