Iran widened its retaliation by striking Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain after a sixth consecutive night of U.S. attacks, raising fears over Gulf security, shipping, and energy supplies.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES
The Middle East edged closer to a wider regional conflict on Friday after Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain in retaliation for a sixth consecutive night of U.S. military strikes across Iranian territory, dramatically escalating tensions across the Gulf.
The latest exchange marks one of the most dangerous phases in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities now directly affected by the conflict. The widening hostilities have also intensified concerns over global energy supplies, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and the possibility of a broader regional war.
Iranian state television said the attacks were carried out in response to overnight U.S. strikes that targeted Iranian infrastructure, including an airport, railway station, and bridges. Iranian officials said seven people were killed during the attacks on the southern port city of Bandar Khamir.
Kuwait confirmed it was responding to missile and drone attacks aimed at U.S. military infrastructure inside the country. Bahrain activated air raid sirens and urged residents to seek shelter, while Qatar said its air defence systems intercepted Iranian missiles before they reached their targets. Qatari authorities reported that a child suffered injuries from shrapnel caused during interception operations and was receiving medical treatment.
According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American fighter aircraft, drones, and naval forces carried out extensive overnight strikes on dozens of Iranian military targets, marking the sixth straight night of operations. The military said the attacks focused on coastal surveillance systems, air defence installations, logistics hubs and maritime capabilities.
Iranian media reported that U.S. strikes also damaged five bridges in Hormozgan province, including key transport routes linked to Bandar Abbas. The official IRNA news agency, citing Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, said seven people were killed after bridges in Bandar Khamir were hit. Mehr News Agency separately reported that a U.S. missile struck the maritime control tower in Chabahar for the third time this week.
The deteriorating security environment is increasingly threatening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes. CENTCOM said U.S. forces redirected three vessels operating in the waterway, boarded one tanker, and disabled another vessel that allegedly failed to comply with American maritime restrictions. The U.S. military maintained that shipping remained open except for vessels violating what it described as its “steel wall blockade.”
The growing conflict has already begun affecting regional energy operations. UAE-based energy producer Dana Gas suspended production at one of its Iraqi gasfields because of security concerns, while India instructed its seafarers to avoid transiting the Strait of Hormuz as military activity intensified across the Gulf.
Diplomatic efforts have also suffered another setback. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu postponed a planned visit to Washington next week as security conditions across the region continued to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, an armed group identifying itself as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq reportedly announced a reward for anyone who kills U.S. President Donald Trump, adding another layer of concern that the conflict could expand beyond direct military exchanges.
With Gulf states now caught in the crossfire, the confrontation between the United States and Iran has entered a far more volatile stage. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes—could have significant consequences for global energy markets, international trade, and diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider Middle East war.
