Conflict in West Asia has intensified as Iran and the joint forces of Israel and America have launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks. Iran and Iranian-backed militias continue to strike US assets across the Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain, after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top Iranian officials. On the other hand, Israel and the United States pounded targets in Iran. Britain, France and Germany have said they are ready to work with the US to counter Iran’s attacks, and a group of Gulf countries said it reserved the right to respond to Iranian strikes.
Oman’s Maritime Security Centre has reported that an oil tanker was attacked by an explosive-laden boat while sailing 52 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat Governorate. At least one crew member was killed after the attack resulted in a fire and an explosion in the engine room.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence announced that two missile attacks struck energy-related sites in the country, with no reported injuries or fatalities.
Three U.S. F-15E Strike Eagles flying in support of Operation Epic Fury went down last night over Kuwait in what American military officials described as an apparent friendly fire incident, with all six aircrew safely recovered. Officials said that, during active combat involving attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones, the U.S. Air Force jets were mistakenly shot down by Kuwaiti air defences.
Amid the growing tension, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani has said that Iran will not negotiate with the United States. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly condemned the recent US air strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Mr Araghchi described the strikes as an unlawful act of aggression and asserted that Iran’s actions constitute self-defence. US President Donald Trump said Washington would avenge the deaths of three American troops who were killed in Kuwait. In a social media post, Mr Trump said that nine Iranian warships had been sunk and that the Iranian navy’s headquarters had been largely destroyed. The US military said B-2 stealth bombers struck Iran’s ballistic missile facilities with two-thousand-pound bombs.
The Israeli Air Force today reported missile launches from Iran targeting Israeli territory. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted drones targeting its Ras Tanura oil refinery. Saudi state television says authorities have temporarily shut down the Ras Tanura refinery near Dammam after the drone attack.
Reza Najafi, Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog, says the country’s sprawling nuclear facility at Natanz was struck during US and Israeli military operations yesterday. Several loud explosions were also heard in Irbil, the capital of northern Iraq’s Kurdish region. Hezbollah said it fired missiles from Lebanon into Israel today in response to the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Israel retaliated with strikes on Beirut. In the attack, 31 people lost their lives. Israel said that crossings to Gaza, where much-needed humanitarian aid passes, will remain closed while the war with Iran continues. The Israeli government has said that the restrictions imposed nationwide remain unchanged until Wednesday night.
Cyprus has said that the drone that hit the British military base caused limited damage. Amid the rising conflict, the World Health Organisation called for the sparing of civilians and healthcare facilities in West Asia. Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission says the country’s airspace will be closed to all aircraft from 15:00 GMT to 06:00 GMT every day starting today until further notice.
Iran’s president has appointed Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza as acting defence minister after his predecessor was killed in Israeli-US strikes, deputy for presidential communications Mehdi Tabatabaei confirmed on X.
Meanwhile, Russia urged a ceasefire in the Middle East while condemning attacks on civilian targets across the region.
Qatar Energy, one of the world’s top natural gas producers, announced it halted production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products after Qatar’s Defence Ministry confirmed two drones attack energy facilities in the industrial cities of Ras Laffan and Mesaieed, with no reported casualties. European gas prices soar by nearly 50% as Qatar halts LNG output after Iranian attacks.
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