A sharp escalation in regional hostilities occurred in the Middle East following a series of military strikes and retaliatory actions between the United States (US) and Iran. The conflict expanded across multiple states, impacting energy markets, civil aviation, and public infrastructure.
The US military completed a new wave of air operations against Iranian territory. According to the US Military Central Command (Centcom), these “additional self-defence strikes” were carried out under the direct instructions of US President Donald Trump.
Centcom stated that the operations targeted “Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran” in response to “unwarranted and continued aggression”.
Following the air raids, President Trump stated that Iranian leadership contacted him directly via telephone to request a halt to the ongoing bombings. Trump disclosed to Fox News that US forces utilized 49 Tomahawk missiles during the latest raid, warning that if Iran fails to accept US terms to end the conflict, “we’ll bomb the S- out of them tomorrow night”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied the claim through the IRNA state news agency, stating, “Trump’s claim that Iranian officials have contacted him is strongly denied and is a cover for escaping war”.
In response to the American operations, the IRGC launched 12 ballistic missiles at the Al-Azraq Air Base and its control centre in Jordan, designating the strike a “punitive operation against the aggressor”.
Iranian state media claimed the attack destroyed the facilities and a significant number of fighter aircraft. Concurrently, Iranian media outlets Mehr and Fars reported drone strikes against the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, specifically targeting communication antennas and radar facilities of the Patriot defense system.
Domestically, Iranian media reported multiple explosions in coastal and port areas, including Bandar Abbas, Kargan, Minab, Qeshm, and Hengam.
State news agency IRNA confirmed the blasts in Qeshm and Hengam were caused by “projectiles all of which are of a military nature”.
The infrastructure damage prompted political reactions from Tehran. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused the US military of striking vital civilian water infrastructure in Sirik, Hormozgan province, destroying two reservoirs with a combined capacity of 2,500 cubic metres that supplied water to 20,000 residents. Baghaei labeled the action a “calculated war crime”.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated on X that the country “will stand firm” against pressure, adding that American threats to target transport, electricity, and water industries are “not a show of strength but a sign of desperation”.
The maritime domain faced complete disruption as Iran’s military command announced the total closure of the Strait of Hormuz to all vessel traffic. The Khatam al-Anbiya command declared that “any vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted” after executing strikes on two vessels attempting to pass through the waterway.
Following the closure of the chokepoint, international oil prices increased by more than $2 per barrel.
The escalation directly affected neighbouring Gulf states. Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace and suspended civil aviation at Kuwait International Airport due to the localized risks posed by the ongoing Iranian attacks. The Kuwaiti army confirmed it was actively responding to incoming missile and drone attacks within its territory while advising citizens to follow safety protocols. The airspace was subsequently reopened after a temporary closure.
The US State Department issued an updated security alert advising its citizens across the region to monitor local news sources and exercise heightened caution due to the volatile security environment.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned via X that the Middle East is being pulled into a deepening crisis, noting that “this week has brought wider attacks and further deterioration where the ceasefire is more like a lesser-fire” and cautioning against the risks of a broader escalation.
