Tensions across the Gulf intensified on Friday after Iran struck a hotel and two residential buildings in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, according to the Bahrain Ministry of Interior. Authorities clarified that the attack targeted one hotel and two residential buildings, correcting an earlier statement that had reported two hotels and one residential structure being hit.
In a post on X, the ministry said the “Iranian aggression targeted a hotel and two residential buildings in Manama,” but confirmed that there was no loss of life. The strike triggered a fire in one of the residential buildings, which emergency teams quickly brought under control.
The attack comes a day after an Iranian missile strike caused a major blaze at Bahrain’s main state-owned oil refinery, highlighting the widening scope of the conflict across the Gulf region.
Bahraini authorities also reported intercepting at least two drone attacks targeting the Al Kharj Governorate and the Eastern Province region, preventing further damage.
Meanwhile, in Qatar, the Qatar Ministry of Defence said its air defenses intercepted a drone targeting the Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest US military installations in the Middle East.
Iran continued to expand its military operations as the regional war entered its seventh day, launching additional missiles toward Israel and US military facilities across the region. Israeli authorities said multiple incoming attacks were detected early Thursday, with air defense systems intercepting several missiles.
At the same time, the Israel Defense Forces announced new strikes against the Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to the Lebanon Ministry of Public Health and the state news agency National News Agency, at least eight people were killed in the attacks between late Wednesday and Thursday.
The widening conflict has already taken a heavy toll. Officials report that at least 1,230 people have been killed in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel. The United States has also confirmed the deaths of six US troops.
Iranian officials have warned that the war could lead to the destruction of the Middle East’s military and economic infrastructure. The escalating tensions have rattled global financial markets, with investors closely watching movements in oil prices, which resumed their rise amid fears of supply disruptions.
Amid growing security concerns, the US Department of State announced the closure of the US embassy in Kuwait City, marking the second diplomatic mission to fully suspend operations since the war began.
In a statement, the department said that while there had been no reported injuries to US personnel, the safety of Americans abroad remained its highest priority.
Shortly before the announcement, Marco Rubio spoke with Kuwait’s foreign minister to convey condolences following the deaths of at least two Kuwaiti troops in Iranian retaliatory strikes.
Although several US embassies and consulates across the Middle East have restricted public access since the conflict erupted, the U.S. Consulate General Karachi had previously been the only diplomatic post to fully suspend operations before the closure in Kuwait.
Leave Your Comment