Iran launches strikes on U.S. bases in Bahrain and Jordan as Gulf tensions escalate
Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military facilities in Bahrain and Jordan on Wednesday, claiming the operation was retaliation for recent American airstrikes on Iranian military positions near the Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks mark a sharp escalation in the growing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, coming hours after U.S. forces struck Iranian air-defense and radar sites following the downing of an American Apache helicopter in the Gulf region. Iranian officials described the strikes as a response to what they called U.S. aggression, while American officials said their earlier operation was a limited and proportional act of self-defense.
Initial reports from regional authorities indicated that air-defense systems were activated in Bahrain and Jordan, with several incoming drones and missiles intercepted. No immediate casualty figures were released.
The latest exchange has heightened concerns about a broader regional conflict and renewed fears over disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes. Oil prices rose as investors reacted to the prospect of further instability in the Gulf.
