Regional violence spreads across Gulf states amid intensifying U.S.-Israel air campaign
The widening conflict in the Middle East escalated early Tuesday after Iran launched a drone strike on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the United States and Israel continued extensive airstrikes across Iranian territory.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry, two drones struck the embassy compound in the capital, causing a limited fire and minor damage. The embassy urged American citizens to avoid the area. The incident followed an earlier attack targeting the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, which has since closed until further notice.
The U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates as a precaution.
The latest developments come amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli air operations inside Iran. President Donald Trump indicated the campaign could continue for weeks, describing it as a sustained effort aimed at dismantling Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
Explosions were reported overnight in Tehran, while the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility sustained “some recent damage,” though it said no radiological consequences were expected.
Iranian authorities report that hundreds have been killed since hostilities intensified, with the majority of casualties inside Iran. The Iranian Red Crescent Society put the death toll at at least 787 people. In Israel, officials reported 11 fatalities from Iranian missile strikes.
Beyond Iran and Israel, the conflict has drawn in multiple regional actors. In Lebanon, Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah positions reportedly killed at least 52 people, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel said its forces are operating in southern Lebanon in what it described as a defensive posture.
Iran has also targeted energy facilities in Gulf countries and vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes. Iranian military officials warned ships against entering the waterway, prompting renewed volatility in global oil and natural gas markets.
The conflict has further disrupted commercial and civilian activity across the region. Reports indicate strikes near infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates and damage to facilities in Bahrain and Qatar. Several countries have urged their citizens to leave the region, though widespread airspace closures have complicated departures.
The U.S. military confirmed the deaths of six American service members in Kuwait. Additional casualties were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. In one incident described as confusion amid active hostilities, U.S. forces said Kuwaiti defenses mistakenly downed three American fighter jets during an Iranian attack; all pilots reportedly ejected safely.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said operations are focused on Iran’s missile systems, naval capabilities and nuclear infrastructure. Iranian officials maintain that their nuclear program is peaceful and deny pursuing nuclear weapons.
Humanitarian agencies are warning of broader consequences. Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration, cautioned that escalating military action could displace more families in a region already grappling with instability.
As the conflict spreads across multiple fronts, diplomatic efforts appear limited, and both sides continue to signal readiness for sustained operations. With embassies under threat, military installations targeted and critical energy routes disrupted, the crisis is entering a phase that could reshape security and economic stability across the Middle East in the weeks ahead.