The war in Iran has expanded rapidly across the Middle East since U.S. strikes began on Saturday, pulling in allies, adversaries, and countries that had sought to stay on the sidelines. Iran has retaliated against Israel and multiple Gulf states, while governments across the region have raised security postures and faced disruptions to energy supplies, air travel, and diplomatic operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
U.S. embassies across the region remain on high alert, and the State Department has urged Americans to leave immediately. The widening scope of attacks has increased uncertainty over how far the conflict could spread and how quickly governments can restore normal commercial activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President Donald Trump launched what was described as a massive military operation aimed at dismantling Iran\u2019s nuclear program, its missile arsenal, and its proxy networks. The stated ambition went further, with the operation described as intended to force regime change. Since the conflict began, at least six<\/strong> U.S. service members have died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Israel coordinated the assault with the United States after months of failed negotiations over Iran\u2019s nuclear program. Israeli strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei<\/strong> and dozens of senior Iranian officials, according to the account provided. Iran has responded with strikes and attempted strikes against Israel as well as an expanding list of U.S. partners in the Gulf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several Gulf governments have reported being hit directly. The United Arab Emirates<\/strong> absorbed roughly 800<\/strong> projectiles from Iran since the war began. Iranian drones struck a luxury hotel on Dubai\u2019s Palm Jumeirah and triggered fires at Jebel Ali Port<\/strong>, described as a critical commercial hub. The UAE closed its embassy in Tehran and is considering military action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qatar<\/strong> suspended most of its natural gas production after Iranian drones struck two energy facilities, and Qatar\u2019s air force shot down two Iranian Su-24<\/strong> fighter jets. Kuwait<\/strong> was attacked on the first day of the war in an incident linked to the first American deaths, and U.S. officials said American fighter jets were mistakenly downed by friendly Kuwaiti fire on Monday. All six<\/strong> crew members ejected and were reported in stable condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bahrain<\/strong> was targeted as Iran struck U.S. bases there, with video showing smoke near the U.S. Navy\u2019s 5th Fleet<\/strong> headquarters in Manama. Iranian drones also hit residential buildings in the capital. Oman<\/strong> was struck on the second day, including attacks on U.S. bases, a notable development because Oman had been mediating indirect nuclear talks between Washington and Tehran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saudi Arabia<\/strong> was also targeted on the second day, with strikes on U.S. bases, followed on Monday by an attack on the U.S. embassy in Riyadh. Iranian drones struck the Ras Tanura<\/strong> oil refinery, described as one of the world\u2019s largest, forcing a partial shutdown. Israeli officials believe Saudi Arabia may also take military action in response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jordan<\/strong> was hit as Iran fired missiles and drones at U.S. military installations there, widening the list of countries exposed to direct fire beyond the Gulf coastline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The conflict has expanded into the eastern Mediterranean. In Lebanon<\/strong>, Hezbollah entered the war on Iran\u2019s side on Monday, launching missiles and drones at Israel and breaking a ceasefire that had been in place since November 2024<\/strong>. Israel responded with heavy airstrikes across Lebanon that killed at least 40<\/strong> people, including several Hezbollah commanders, and also launched an incursion into southern Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Iraq<\/strong>, Iran struck the Kurdish region, which it views as aligned with the United States. Pro-Iranian militias also attacked U.S. bases in Iraq, and supporters attempted to storm the U.S. embassy compound in Baghdad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The spillover has reached Europe-linked territory as well. Drones struck the British Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri<\/strong> in Cyprus<\/strong>, pulling the United Kingdom and the European Union closer to the conflict. Cypriot press reports said the strikes likely came from Hezbollah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After the drone strike on the UK base, Prime Minister Keir Starmer<\/strong> authorized U.S. use of British air bases to strike Iranian missile sites and dispatched a Royal Navy destroyer and counter-drone helicopters to the region. France<\/strong> and Germany<\/strong> initially called for renewed negotiations but became more open to strikes after Iranian attacks hit their personnel, including a German army camp in Jordan. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz<\/strong> visited the White House on Tuesday and discussed the conflict with Trump.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Retaliation widens conflict after U.S. strikes on Saturday The war in Iran has expanded rapidly across the Middle East since U.S. strikes began on Saturday, pulling in allies, adversaries, and countries that had sought to stay on the sidelines. Iran has retaliated against Israel and multiple Gulf states, while governments across the region have raised<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4593,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[707,708,712,704,703,705,706,711,710,709],"ppma_author":[42],"class_list":{"0":"post-4592","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-bahrain-5th-fleet-manama","9":"tag-gulf-states-attacks","10":"tag-hezbollah-lebanon-ceasefire-november-2024","11":"tag-iran-war-escalation","12":"tag-israel-iran-conflict","13":"tag-qatar-gas-production-halted","14":"tag-ras-tanura-refinery-strike","15":"tag-saudi-embassy-riyadh-attack","16":"tag-u-s-strikes-saturday","17":"tag-uae-projectiles-dubai-drones"},"yoast_head":"\nGulf states report attacks on bases, cities and energy assets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Levant and Europe drawn in as Hezbollah joins and bases hit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n