The United States has carried out a second consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, intensifying tensions in the Middle East as Iran responded with drone and missile attacks targeting US military facilities in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck approximately 90 military targets overnight, bringing the total number of targets hit over two nights to around 170. The strikes targeted air defence systems, missile and drone storage sites, naval facilities, military logistics infrastructure and coastal surveillanc

The United States has carried out a second consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian military targets, intensifying tensions in the Middle East as Iran responded with drone and missile attacks targeting US military facilities in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck approximately 90 military targets overnight, bringing the total number of targets hit over two nights to around 170. The strikes targeted air defence systems, missile and drone storage sites, naval facilities, military logistics infrastructure and coastal surveillance assets along Iran's southern coastline. The US military said the operation was intended to further weaken Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz following attacks on merchant vessels earlier this week. Iranian state media reported explosions across several southern coastal regions, including areas near Ahvaz and Chabahar, with local authorities saying at least three people were killed and several others injured. In retaliation, Iran's military announced it had launched drone strikes against US military installations in Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the attacks as the "first phase" of its response, warning that further strikes could follow if US military operations continued. The escalating confrontation has also disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy corridors. Shipping activity has reportedly dropped sharply as commercial vessels avoid the area amid growing security concerns. US President Donald Trump defended the latest military action, saying Iran had requested renewed negotiations but questioned whether Tehran could be trusted to honour any agreement. "They want to make a deal so badly," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. "I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal." Iran's parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator with the United States, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, rejected Washington's approach, accusing the US of continuing a policy of intimidation and broken promises. The renewed exchange of strikes has raised fears of a broader regional conflict involving Gulf states that host American military bases. Security alerts were issued in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar as authorities monitored the situation. Meanwhile, global energy markets remain on edge. Although oil prices have risen following the latest escalation, analysts say markets are closely watching developments around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil supply normally passes. With military operations continuing and diplomatic relations deteriorating, prospects for a negotiated settlement appear increasingly uncertain, raising concerns that the conflict could further destabilize the Middle East and threaten global energy security.

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