Strikes expand across Gulf as Iran–US–Israel war intensifies
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Military escalation between Iran, the United States and Israel continued over the past 24 hours, with new airstrikes, drone attacks and rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz as the conflict entered its third week.
Israeli and U.S. forces carried out additional strikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including targets linked to Iran’s strategic oil export network on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. U.S. Central Command confirmed the operation targeted missile bunkers and naval mine storage facilities on the island, which handles most of Iran’s oil exports.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that further strikes on the facility were possible and urged allied countries to deploy warships to help secure shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global oil supplies.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US-linked facilities in the region. Air-raid sirens were reported in central Israel following ballistic missile launches from Iranian territory, while Israeli health authorities reported dozens of people hospitalized from injuries related to the attacks over the past day.
The conflict also spilled further into the Gulf. A drone strike caused a fire near the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, temporarily halting some oil-loading operations at one of the world’s key crude export hubs. Authorities later said operations resumed after emergency teams brought the fire under control.
Tehran warned that ports in the UAE could become targets if they were used to support US military operations, while Iranian officials accused Washington of launching attacks on Iranian territory from facilities in the Gulf state.
Meanwhile, Washington announced it was sending additional military forces to the Middle East, including around 2,500 US Marines, as regional tensions continue to rise and diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled.
The conflict began on Feb. 28 when Israel, reportedly with U.S. support, launched a large-scale strike campaign against Iranian military targets, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region and raising fears of a broader Middle East war.