According to Iranian state media, the civilian casualties resulted from what Tehran described as “unprovoked and unlawful” US military action. Iranian officials warned that continued strikes would provoke “firm and direct” responses, accusing Washington of destabilizing the region at a sensitive moment
DNA
TEHRAN: Regional tensions escalated sharply on Wednesday as Iran claimed that recent US airstrikes had killed more than 30 civilians, amid a widening cycle of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards said the strikes occurred near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint, further heightening concerns over maritime security and regional stability.
According to Iranian state media, the civilian casualties resulted from what Tehran described as “unprovoked and unlawful” US military action. Iranian officials warned that continued strikes would provoke “firm and direct” responses, accusing Washington of destabilizing the region at a sensitive moment.
In a rapid series of developments, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that US military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan had been targeted in retaliatory operations. The Guards claimed these strikes were a direct response to what they called “recent American aggression,” though no independent confirmation of damage or casualties was immediately available.
Bahrain’s military, however, reported that it had intercepted multiple aerial barrages launched from Iran, describing the attack as a “serious escalation.” Bahraini authorities said their air-defense systems successfully neutralized the incoming projectiles, preventing damage to military installations and civilian areas. The government condemned the attack and reaffirmed its commitment to regional security cooperation.
Meanwhile, US Central Command confirmed that American forces had carried out additional strikes in southeastern Iran, killing seven Iranian soldiers. The Pentagon described the operation as a “precision defensive action” aimed at neutralizing threats to US personnel stationed across the region. Washington reiterated that it does not seek conflict but will respond decisively to attacks on its forces.
The violence was not confined to the Gulf. Along the Lebanon-Israel border, Israeli forces demolished several homes in southern Lebanon and opened fire on residents during what the Israeli military described as an operation targeting militant infrastructure. Lebanese officials condemned the incident, reporting civilian injuries and accusing Israel of violating sovereignty and escalating tensions.
The latest developments underscore a rapidly deteriorating security environment stretching from the Gulf to the Levant. Analysts warn that the combination of US-Iran hostilities, cross-border clashes, and rising civilian casualties risks triggering a broader regional confrontation unless diplomatic channels are urgently activated.
As the situation continues to evolve, authorities across the region have urged restraint, though the pace and intensity of military exchanges suggest that the coming days may prove critical for regional stability.
