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Tensions in the Middle East have soared after Iran launched a series of aggressive strikes against U.S. assets across the Gulf Arab countries. This escalation is seen as a retaliatory response to a large-scale joint attack on Iran carried out by the U.S. and Israel. Many fear that these events could lead to a broader regional conflict, reports Al Jazeera.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the Iranian government officially confirmed that it had targeted multiple locations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Notably, in the UAE, airbases hosting U.S. forces were hit. According to the Fars news agency, Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for striking all Israeli and U.S. military sites in the Middle East \u201cby the powerful blows of Iranian missiles.\u201d<\/p>\n
The IRGC issued a warning, stating, \u201cThis operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,\u201d and clarified that all U.S. assets in the region are now considered legitimate targets for Iran\u2019s military efforts.<\/p>\n
Hamid Ghanbari, Iran\u2019s Deputy Foreign Minister, told Al Jazeera that Iran believes it has the right to defend itself and expressed regret over any civilian casualties caused by the ongoing military actions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi sent a letter to the United Nations Security Council and Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, affirming that Iran will \u201ccontinue \u2060to exercise its right of \u2060self-defense decisively and without \u2060hesitation until the aggression ceases fully and unequivocally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reports indicate that at least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, after Iran launched several missile strikes that were reportedly intercepted. The country\u2019s official news agency provided no additional details.<\/p>\n
Bahrain also reported that a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet, based in Manama.<\/p>\n
Kuwait\u2019s Defense Ministry confirmed that Ali al-Salem Air Base came under ballistic missile attack, but all incoming projectiles were intercepted by Kuwait\u2019s air defenses. The attack reportedly caused minor injuries to personnel and some damage to facilities.<\/p>\n
Saudi Arabia announced that Iran had targeted Riyadh and the eastern region of the kingdom, but the Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that all attacks were successfully repelled.<\/p>\n
An Al Jazeera correspondent reported that Erbil Airport in Iraq\u2019s Kurdish region was targeted twice on Saturday. A drone attack aimed at Erbil International Airport was intercepted and shot down by air defenses, and another drone in the area was also neutralized.<\/p>\n
Additionally, a strike targeted a headquarters of the armed group Kataeb Hezbollah southwest of Baghdad, killing two people, according to the Associated Press. A Kataib Hezbollah official confirmed that a new attack had taken place. The group warned that \u201cwe will soon begin attacking American bases in response to their aggression.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Qatar, the Defense Ministry stated that it had thwarted attempted attacks, intercepting all missiles before they could reach the country.<\/p>\n
The country’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that it reserves the right to respond lawfully and proportionally to these attacks, defending its sovereignty and security.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry, “the State <\/span>of <\/span>Qatar has been and continues to be among <\/span>the foremost advocates of dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran, consistently calling for this approach as the optimal foundation for addressing differences and resolving disputes through peaceful means, and for sparing the region the risks of escalation.”<\/span><\/p>\n As a consequence of these hostilities, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE temporarily shut down their airspace. Shipping in the Gulf region also reported receiving notices about the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil export route for the area\u2019s major oil producers.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump told Fox News that \u201c48 [Iranian] leaders are gone in one shot,\u201d claiming that the operation in Iran is \u201cmoving along rapidly.\u201d<\/p>\n He confirmed that three U.S. service members had been killed in action during the operation.<\/p>\n Across the border in Israel, the situation remains tense. Nine people were reported dead after a missile strike hit the city of Beit Shemesh, with many residents and visitors on high alert with sirens announcing threats of incoming missiles.<\/p>\n BBC News cites that there are ongoing Israeli military actions inside Tehran, with Iranian officials stating that at least 153 people, including children, have been killed after a reported strike hit a school.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tensions in the Middle East have soared after Iran launched a series of aggressive strikes against U.S. assets across the Gulf Arab countries. This escalation is seen as a retaliatory response to a large-scale joint attack on Iran carried…","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":357554,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[235,6,76,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-357553","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homepage-carousel","category-international-news","category-international-relations","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n