Agencies | Washington/ Tehran:
Tensions in West Asia escalated sharply on Sunday after Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted incoming “hostile” missiles and drones, while neighbouring Bahrain activated air raid sirens following fresh US military strikes on Iranian targets.
The Kuwaiti military said its air defence systems successfully responded to the aerial threats and urged residents to follow official safety instructions. In Bahrain, which hosts the US Fifth Fleet, authorities advised citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location after warning sirens sounded across the country.
The developments came hours after the United States launched another round of strikes on Iranian military targets, following an attack on a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The latest exchange marks the most serious escalation since Washington and Tehran agreed to an interim ceasefire two weeks ago.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any further US military action would be met with a “crushing response,” accusing Washington of violating the ceasefire agreement. The United States and Iran have both accused each other of breaching the truce intended to end months of hostilities.
US President Donald Trump also issued a fresh warning to Tehran, stating that the United States could be forced to “militarily complete the job” if Iran continued to violate the ceasefire. Reiterating Washington’s long-standing position on Iran’s nuclear programme, Trump declared that “Iran will never have a Nuclear Weapon.”
US Conducts Strikes on Iranian Military Targets
The US military said it carried out strikes on 10 Iranian military targets, including missile and radar installations, in response to what it described as continued threats to regional security. Further details regarding the locations targeted and the extent of the damage were not immediately disclosed.
The United States also released footage of strikes on Iranian missile, drone storage facilities, and coastal radar sites, stating the operation followed an alleged Iranian drone attack on a Singapore-flagged commercial vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran Warns Over Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that any new military aggression would trigger a “crushing response.” Iranian officials also asserted that, under the Islamabad Understanding, Tehran would regulate commercial maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and warned that vessels violating its directives could face stricter enforcement.
Iran has cited Article 5 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which states that it will facilitate the safe passage of commercial shipping through the strategic waterway while coordinating future maritime administration with Oman and other Gulf littoral states in accordance with international law.
Israel Reports Operation in Southern Syria
Amid the broader regional tensions, the Israeli military said its forces killed several armed militants operating within the security zone in southern Syria. The military did not disclose the identities of those killed or provide additional operational details.
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the recently announced framework agreement with Lebanon as a significant diplomatic and security achievement. According to Netanyahu, the arrangement recognises Israel’s right to maintain a military presence in parts of southern Lebanon until all agreed conditions are fulfilled by the Lebanese government.
The rapidly evolving situation has heightened concerns over a wider regional conflict, even as diplomatic efforts continue to preserve the ceasefire and negotiate a longer-term agreement between the United States and Iran.
