Iran has launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks against U.S. military-linked targets across the Middle East, following a renewed American assault on Iranian positions.
The latest escalation has seen Iranian forces target locations in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq, raising fears that the conflict could spread further across the region.
The United States said its latest military operation targeted facilities belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including air-defence systems, radar installations, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications infrastructure near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran subsequently vowed to respond to the American strikes.
Wedding gathering reportedly hit in southern Iran
The escalation has also been accompanied by reports of civilian casualties in southern Iran.
The Iranian Red Crescent said five people were killed and dozens injured after a strike hit a residential area near Sirik, where a wedding ceremony was reportedly taking place.
Iranian media said a child was among those killed. Different Iranian reports gave varying figures for the number of injured, with estimates ranging from about 50 to 68 people. The claims have not been independently verified.
The U.S. military has said it does not target civilians.
A spokesperson for U.S. Central Command said American forces were aware of the reports surrounding the Sirik incident and maintained that U.S. operations were directed at military targets.
Jordan intercepts Iranian missiles
Iran’s retaliation included a missile attack aimed at a U.S.-linked military facility in Jordan.
Jordanian authorities said their air-defence systems detected 13 ballistic missiles entering the country’s airspace. Ten were intercepted, while three landed in remote areas, according to the Jordanian military.
No deaths or injuries were initially reported from the attack. U.S. officials also said there were no reported American casualties in Jordan based on initial assessments.
Attacks reported in Bahrain, Kuwait and Iraq
Iran also launched attacks against American-linked facilities elsewhere in the region.
Bahrain said its air-defence systems intercepted Iranian drones, while Kuwait reported hostile drone activity and damage to a residential complex in the capital. No casualties were reported in the Kuwaiti incident.
In northern Iraq, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed it had attacked U.S. facilities in the Kurdistan region. The claims included alleged damage to military infrastructure, although the reported casualties were not independently confirmed by U.S. or Iraqi authorities.
The renewed exchange marks one of the most serious escalations between Washington and Tehran in weeks.
Strait of Hormuz remains at the centre of the crisis
The conflict is also creating growing concern over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The United States said its latest strikes were linked to what it described as Iranian attempts to threaten commercial shipping and American forces around the waterway.
The renewed fighting has already pushed oil prices higher as traders worry that continued instability could further disrupt crude supplies. Brent crude moved above $95 a barrel on Wednesday amid the latest escalation.
With both Washington and Tehran issuing warnings of further retaliation, fears are growing that the latest confrontation could develop into a much wider regional crisis.
