Bahrain reported intercepting an Iranian aerial attack early Wednesday, as Iran continued to target allies of the United States in the Gulf region despite President Donald Trump's threats of escalating American military action. The attacks come after a respite of more than a month, with fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensifying since the weekend.
Bahrain, which hosts a significant U.S. naval base, stated that its air defense systems intercepted incoming fire from Iran and accused Tehran of "attacks targeting civilians." This renewed violence risks reigniting a conflict that has been ongoing for seven months, leading to a surge in oil prices, global economic instability, and increasing political challenges for the Republican party ahead of the November midterm elections.
Since the resumption of hostilities, the international benchmark Brent crude oil price has surpassed $95 per barrel, a more than 30 percent increase since the conflict began. Before the early Wednesday attacks on Bahrain, Iran had also fired missiles at Jordan and deployed drones toward Kuwait, all of which were intercepted by air defenses. On Monday, the United Arab Emirates announced it had intercepted an Iranian drone over its territorial waters.
The U.S. Central Command confirmed it had conducted a new series of strikes against Iranian military targets, including air defense sites, radar systems, and maritime assets. These actions were in response to Tehran's attempts to target commercial shipping and American forces in the Middle East.
Earlier attacks by the U.S. on Iran reportedly hit a home hosting a wedding, resulting in at least five fatalities, including a child, and wounding at least 68 others, according to Iranian officials. The U.S. military stated it was aware of the report but maintained it "never targets civilians."
Iranian state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for attacks targeting radar systems and U.S. forces at bases in the United Arab Emirates, as well as radar installations and gathering points at Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base. The IRGC also stated it targeted U.S. forces in Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The Guards reported that four IRGC Aerospace Force personnel were killed in a U.S. attack in the western province of Kermanshah.
During the lull in fighting last month, the U.S. increased economic pressure on Iran, which is experiencing high inflation, negative economic growth, and a depreciating currency. Washington's objective was to secure concessions for the unimpeded passage of international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Prior to the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, approximately one-fifth of the world's traded oil passed through this critical waterway, which Iran has since largely controlled.
Despite U.S. declarations that the strait is open, daily traffic remains minimal, with Iran regularly attacking vessels. President Trump, in remarks late Tuesday, indicated he was not seeking a negotiated settlement with Iran. "I couldn't care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Strait of Hormuz, and their economy totally collapsing," Trump posted on social media, questioning when the Iranian people would revolt.
Earlier, Trump had emphasized economic sanctions as a means to pressure Iran. He had previously warned that any retaliation for new strikes would result in a "much harder and higher level" response.