Iran, Mar 10 : Iran launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf Arab nations on Tuesday, escalating tensions across the region as the wider conflict continued to spread beyond its initial frontlines.
Air raid sirens sounded in Dubai and Bahrain early in the morning, signalling incoming threats. Authorities in Saudi Arabia reported intercepting two drones over its eastern oil producing region, while the Kuwait National Guard said it had shot down six unmanned aerial vehicles.
Tehran has been striking not only Israel and American military facilities but also critical energy infrastructure across the Gulf. The escalation, combined with rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, has rattled global energy markets.
Oil prices surged sharply in response to the disruptions. Brent crude climbed close to $120 per barrel earlier this week before retreating, though prices remained significantly elevated compared to levels before the conflict erupted on February 28.
Despite mounting fears of a prolonged confrontation, Donald Trump sought to ease concerns, describing the conflict as a “short-term excursion,” even as analysts warn the fighting could persist and further destabilise the region.
The war has already disrupted major oil and gas supply routes, pushing fuel prices higher and prompting evacuations from major Gulf business centres. Bombings have struck military bases, government buildings, energy facilities and other key infrastructure across the region.
Shipping traffic has also been severely affected as Iran has effectively halted tanker movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage that handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. Attacks on commercial vessels near the waterway have reportedly killed several sailors, according to international maritime authorities.
Responding to warnings from Washington, Iranian officials signalled their determination to continue the confrontation. A spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ali Mohammad Naini, said Tehran would decide when the war ends.
Meanwhile, the conflict has expanded across neighbouring countries. Hezbollah has exchanged strikes with Israel along the Lebanese border, while Iran-aligned militias in Iraq have launched attacks on American bases.
In northern Iraq, an airstrike targeted a base of the Popular Mobilization Forces near Kirkuk, killing at least five fighters and injuring several others, according to local officials.
The escalating hostilities have heightened fears that the conflict could widen further, threatening regional stability and global energy supplies.