The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified on Friday as both countries launched fresh drone and missile attacks against each other, raising fears of a wider regional war.
The latest exchange of hostilities comes barely a month after both nations signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at easing tensions.
However, renewed military operations have shattered hopes of lasting peace, with Tehran accusing Washington of targeting civilian infrastructure, including an airport, railway station and major bridges.
Iranian authorities said at least eight people were killed and about 20 others injured in the latest American strikes, while the country’s leadership vowed to sustain retaliatory operations until the US halts attacks on its strategic coastal facilities.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that they had launched coordinated strikes against American military assets across the Middle East, including radar installations and military facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
Tehran described the attacks as retaliation against what it called continued American aggression.
The Kuwaiti government confirmed that an Iranian strike damaged a power and water facility, while several military personnel were reportedly injured after drones targeted military bases.
Qatar also said its air defence system intercepted missiles aimed at US installations within its territory.
Elsewhere, Jordan’s military announced it intercepted three Iranian missiles that entered its airspace, while coalition forces operating in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region reportedly shot down several drones.
Authorities in the region also condemned attacks that claimed the lives of members of an Iranian Kurdish opposition group.
The renewed fighting has further heightened tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route that has remained at the centre of the conflict since hostilities resumed.
Tehran maintains control over the strategic waterway, while the United States has reportedly tightened its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran’s Health Ministry said at least 38 people have been killed and more than 400 wounded since the latest phase of the conflict began.
Meanwhile, international efforts to broker peace have continued.
China and Pakistan have jointly urged both countries to halt military operations and return to negotiations amid growing concerns over the impact of the conflict on regional security and global energy supplies.
Adding to concerns, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that a commercial oil tanker was struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman, underscoring the increasing risks to international shipping as the conflict continues to escalate.
