By Desmond Nleya
The United States launched fresh strikes on Iran on Monday, intensifying a rapidly escalating regional crisis centred on the Strait of Hormuz, while Bahrain activated emergency sirens and Kuwait said its air defences intercepted hostile aerial objects.
The latest military action comes after a major US air assault over the weekend that Washington said struck dozens of Iranian targets using precision weapons. Iranian authorities condemned the attacks and said they had “rendered futile” months of diplomatic efforts aimed at easing tensions.
Iran also claimed responsibility for attacks on US-linked military sites in the region, including an alleged strike on a base in Jordan, though the claim has not been independently verified.
Bahrain’s government urged citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location after activating alarm sirens across the country. Authorities instructed the public to follow official updates and comply with emergency directives.
In neighbouring Kuwait, the General Staff of the Kuwait Army said air defence systems engaged hostile aerial objects that had entered Kuwaiti airspace early Monday. Explosions heard in several areas were the result of mid-air interceptions, according to a statement carried by the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
The renewed confrontation has heightened concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supplies passes. Conflicting claims over the status and safety of the strait have deepened fears of disruption to global energy markets.
Oil prices rose more than 3% following the weekend attacks as traders reacted to the possibility of wider regional conflict and potential threats to shipping lanes.
Iranian state media reported that one person was killed and four others wounded in strikes in southwestern Iran, while US officials have not released a detailed casualty assessment.
The latest escalation threatens a fragile interim understanding that had been aimed at preventing a broader war between Washington and Tehran, with Gulf states remaining on high alert as military and maritime tensions continue to rise.
