Escalation in the Middle East continues: the United States launched a fresh series of strikes on targets in southern Iran, and Tehran retaliated by attacking American military bases and infrastructure in several Gulf countries, reports infohub.kz.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes hit military facilities near Bandar Abbas and other strategic points in the south. Targets included sites linked to missile systems, drones, air defense, and coastal defense assets that Washington says Iran uses to attack shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
In response, Iran claimed missile and drone strikes on US facilities in Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, as well as a radar station in Oman. Iranian media also reported attacks on a former US base in Syria. These claims are partly corroborated by international news agencies, but the US has not yet disclosed the extent of any damage.
According to Reuters, a fire broke out at a power plant and water desalination facility in Kuwait after a strike, causing power outages. In Qatar, authorities said air defenses intercepted an Iranian missile, but a child was injured by falling debris.
The escalation also continues around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil and gas shipping routes. Reuters reports that Iran attacked a vessel flying a Thai flag near the strait. Additionally, armed men seized another ship off the coast of Yemen, though their affiliation has not been officially determined.
Meanwhile, there is no confirmation that Iran has struck a US warship. Tehran earlier claimed an attack on a US vessel in the northern Indian Ocean, but the US has not confirmed this.
Amid the renewed strikes, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense. According to Reuters, commercial shipping traffic through the route has dropped noticeably, and fears of potential oil supply disruptions have pushed global crude prices higher once again.