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Gulf states suffer attacks amid widening conflict
Iranian drones and missiles struck industrial sites across the Gulf over the weekend, injuring workers and damaging critical infrastructure as the US-Israel war against Iran entered its fifth week.
Aluminium plants targeted in UAE and Bahrain
The United Arab Emirates reported injuries and significant damage after an Iranian strike hit an aluminium plant in Abu Dhabi operated by Emirates Global Aluminium. Bahrain's state-controlled Aluminium Bahrain confirmed two employees were wounded in a separate attack on one of the world's largest aluminium smelters.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility, stating the facilities were linked to American military operations. The strikes were retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iranian industrial sites, according to a statement carried by Iran's Mehr news agency.
Regional tensions flare as attacks spread
Oman launched an investigation into unexplained drone strikes that injured a foreign worker at the southern port of Salalah. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Kuwait's defence ministry reported its international airport radar system suffered major damage after an assault involving 15 drones. The source of the attack remains unconfirmed.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels joined the conflict on Saturday, firing missiles at Israel and vowing further strikes. Israel stated it intercepted two projectiles launched from Yemen. Analysts warn Houthi involvement could disrupt Red Sea shipping, echoing tactics used during the Gaza war following Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel.
Energy markets react to Strait of Hormuz closure
Oil and gas prices surged after Iran effectively sealed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global energy exports connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Economists caution that sustained Houthi attacks on shipping lanes could push prices higher.
Gulf nations demand role in peace negotiations
Gulf states, facing economic and security threats, insist on inclusion in any future peace talks. Divisions persist, however, over the region's relationship with Iran and the US. Some leaders advocate for dialogue, while others push for stronger alliances with Western powers.
Lebanon suffers deadly Israeli strikes
Israel continued its offensive in Lebanon, killing three journalists in a targeted strike on Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified one victim, Ali Shoeib of Hezbollah-affiliated Al Manar TV, as a member of the group's elite Radwan Force, labeling him a "terrorist" operating under journalistic cover. The IDF provided no evidence of his military role and did not address the deaths of Fatima or Mohamed Ftouni.
The World Health Organization reported nine paramedics killed in southern Lebanon within 24 hours, bringing the March death toll among health workers to 51.
