The Middle East is witnessing a renewed escalation after Iranian media reported that at least 40 people, including students, were killed and dozens injured following Israeli strikes that targeted a primary school for girls in the city of Minab, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province. According to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, citing a provincial official, the school was hit during the attacks, though no immediate operational details were provided, deepening uncertainty about the circumstances and objectives behind the strike.
The developments come amid announcements by Washington and Tel Aviv that they conducted joint strikes against targets inside Iran, describing the operation as aimed at eliminating what they called “imminent threats” posed by Iranian authorities. In separate video statements, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump framed the action within a broader security strategy, with some interpretations suggesting that the messaging went beyond deterrence and hinted at political pressure on Tehran.
In response, Iran condemned the strikes as a violation of its sovereignty and vowed retaliation. Iranian forces subsequently launched counterstrikes targeting sites and interests linked to US military presence across several Gulf states. Iranian media reported that facilities in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates were struck, effectively expanding the battlefield beyond Iran’s borders and exposing foreign military installations to direct risk.
In Bahrain, a service center affiliated with the US Fifth Fleet was reportedly hit, with smoke seen rising in the Juffair area where a US naval base is located. In Qatar, the Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted several missiles before they reached national territory. In the United Arab Emirates, authorities stated that ballistic missiles were intercepted but debris fell in a residential area in Abu Dhabi, causing material damage and the death of an Asian national. The UAE also announced a temporary partial closure of its airspace as a precaution.
The Jordanian army reported shooting down two ballistic missiles aimed at its territory, activating air raid sirens and conducting aerial patrols to secure its airspace. Kuwait and Syria likewise announced temporary airspace closures as preventive measures, underscoring the regional dimension of the confrontation and the growing concern over spillover effects.
These events unfold at a time when Oman has been mediating talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program, with the latest round held in Geneva. The diplomatic channel appeared to offer a pathway toward de-escalation, yet the outbreak of military strikes risks undermining negotiations and weakening prospects for sustained dialogue.
The current escalation echoes previous cycles of direct confrontation, including US strikes in June against Iranian nuclear sites during a 12-day period of heightened conflict. Today, the situation signals the potential for further expansion of hostilities, raising serious concerns about regional stability, energy security, and the safety of air and maritime routes across the Gulf.
