By Staff Reporter
Dubai: Tensions across the Gulf intensified early Wednesday after the United States launched a series of large-scale airstrikes against Iran, prompting heightened security measures and renewed concerns over the safety of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
According to the Pentagon, US forces carried out precision strikes on more than 80 military targets across Iran after Washington accused Tehran of attacking three commercial vessels operating near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes targeted air defence systems, command-and-control facilities, coastal radar installations, anti-ship missile sites, and assets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including more than 60 fast attack boats.
The military operation has significantly heightened tensions across the Middle East, with Gulf countries closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation.
Iran responded by claiming it had launched attacks against 85 US military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait and had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Bushehr province. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
Iranian state media also reported explosions in several strategic locations, including Kharg Island, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and Qeshm Island, while Tehran condemned the US operation as a “blatant act of aggression” and warned that it would deliver a “crushing response.”
Regional security concerns escalated further after Kuwait activated its air defence systems to intercept potential threats, while Bahrain reported incoming missile alerts. Authorities in both countries said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The confrontation comes after three commercial vessels were attacked in Gulf waters. A tanker off the coast of Oman caught fire after reportedly being struck, while two other ships sustained damage. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said no injuries had been reported.
Iran also warned that it would not tolerate foreign interference in the Strait of Hormuz and insisted that vessels operating through the strategic waterway comply with routes approved by Tehran.
The latest escalation has renewed fears over disruptions to global energy supplies, as roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Energy markets remain on high alert amid concerns that prolonged hostilities could impact oil and gas exports from the Gulf.
The military exchange also threatens to derail recent diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising fresh concerns about the possibility of a broader regional conflict.
The strikes occurred during mourning ceremonies following the death of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, adding further significance to an already volatile situation.
Governments across the Gulf continue to monitor developments closely as the standoff between the United States and Iran enters a dangerous new phase, with regional security and global energy markets remaining under intense scrutiny.
