The Middle East has seen a sharp escalation between the United States and Iran following a series of retaliatory strikes. American forces attacked Iranian missile installations near the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, claiming they were used to deploy mines in the waterway. In response, Iran launched drone and missile attacks on U.S. military bases in Jordan, Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait.
On Thursday morning, air raid sirens sounded across Kuwait after Iranian missiles and drones were intercepted by the country’s defense systems. Iranian state media reported that one of the American strikes on Iranian territory on Wednesday hit a wedding celebration in Kuhestak, resulting in at least 18 deaths and over 100 injuries.
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with immediate retaliation, stating Washington could strike “at any time it wants.” The president also claimed to have destroyed Iranian military equipment along the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that Tehran now faces economic collapse and a “failed state” situation.
Oil prices dropped slightly on Thursday, with Brent crude futures falling 0.62% to $95.04 per barrel amid concerns over potential disruptions to Middle East oil supplies. The decline followed preliminary signs that the current round of escalation was cooling, though trading sessions had previously shown significant volatility.
The Pentagon has confirmed that the deployment of U.S. troops in the region will be extended until 2027, with approximately 50,000 American forces stationed there to intercept Iranian missiles, protect commercial shipping, and enforce a naval blockade around Iranian ports.
