Iran attacks Gulf allies after U.S. strikes, raising risk of wider conflict
Iran launched missile attacks on U.S. allies in the Gulf following American strikes that killed civilians, while oil prices surged and diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled.
Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases in Jordan and reported attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and other regional targets on Wednesday, saying the strikes were retaliation for a U.S. night raid that hit a wedding party in the coastal town of Kuhestak. The U.S. operation, which Iran described as killing four civilians, was part of a broader campaign that also targeted Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed fighting comes after a month-long lull and has pushed Brent crude up to about $95 a barrel, roughly a 30% increase since the war began six months ago. Analysts said the conflict continues to focus on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, where the United States claims to have cleared mines and escorted nearly 1,500 commercial vessels, though traffic remains far below pre-war levels.
Kuwait and Bahrain said they had been hit but reported no casualties. In Iraq, Kurdish forces intercepted ten explosive drones near Irbil, and Israel said Hezbollah-linked drones were launched at its troops in southern Lebanon without causing injuries.
Iranian officials cited the civilian deaths, including two women and two children at the wedding, as evidence of U.S. aggression. "Make no mistake: these crimes will not go unpunished," said Ebrahim Azizi, chair of Iran's parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. The U.S. Central Command acknowledged the reports and said it was reviewing them, but did not confirm an investigation.
The conflict has also strained Iran's economy, with the rial reaching a new low of 2.20 million per dollar. Experts warned that continued escalation could push the region toward a full-scale war, a scenario both sides have so far avoided.
Efforts to revive a ceasefire negotiated in June have stalled, and Pakistan continues to mediate without a breakthrough. President Trump recently said he would not force Iran back to negotiations, emphasizing a U.S. position of control over the Hormuz Strait.