The U.S.-Iran conflict has entered a dangerous new phase, with Iran reporting civilian casualties from recent American strikes, launching missiles and drones toward U.S. targets in Kuwait and other Gulf countries, and warning Washington that an Israeli offensive against a Hezbollah-held ridge in southern Lebanon could trigger a major Iranian response.
Iran’s Health Ministry said 18 people were killed and 108 wounded in U.S. strikes carried out Tuesday night, according to Reuters. The Iranian Red Crescent separately reported that four people were killed and 67 wounded when a strike hit a wedding ceremony near the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has said its operations targeted military infrastructure and has not indicated that civilians were deliberately targeted.
The renewed fighting follows a month-long lull after earlier ceasefire arrangements and negotiations failed to produce a lasting settlement. The United States has carried out strikes against Iranian air defenses, radar systems and maritime assets, while Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks against U.S. military positions and other targets across the region.
Kuwait drawn deeper into the conflict
Iran widened its retaliation on Thursday by firing missiles and drones toward Kuwait, according to the Associated Press. Kuwait said its air defenses intercepted the incoming threats and described the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty.
The attacks followed Iranian strikes or attempted strikes against U.S. positions in Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq. Iran has said its military actions are retaliation for American bombardments and are directed at U.S. assets in the region.
The escalation is also affecting global energy markets. Oil prices climbed on Thursday, with Brent crude reaching about $97 a barrel as investors assessed the risk of further disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported that shipping through the strategic waterway has fallen sharply amid the conflict.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. The U.S. Energy Information Administration said about 21 million barrels of oil per day passed through the strait in 2022, equivalent to roughly 21% of global petroleum liquids consumption.
Iran warns against Israeli operation in Lebanon
Separately, Iran has warned the United States that it would respond forcefully if Israel launches a major offensive against the Ali al-Taher ridge in southern Lebanon, according to three officials briefed on the message and cited by Reuters.
The ridge is regarded as strategically important because of its elevated position overlooking southeastern Lebanon. Lebanese security sources say Hezbollah is believed to have underground command facilities and weapons stores in the area. Reuters said it could not independently confirm the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel there, although officials told the agency that Iranian military personnel were reportedly positioned alongside Hezbollah fighters.
Iran reportedly delivered its warning through Oman in August, saying a full-scale Israeli operation against the ridge could trigger a large Iranian attack. Hezbollah has also warned that an assault on the area could lead to a return to full-scale war. Israel has identified the ridge as a major operational focus and has maintained military positions in territory south of it.
The latest escalation is particularly significant because the current war began with U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, followed by months of fighting and several attempts at a ceasefire. A preliminary U.S.-Iran agreement announced in June called for an end to military operations, reopening the Strait of Hormuz and further negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, but subsequent clashes undermined the arrangement.
With fighting now extending across Iran, the Gulf and southern Lebanon, concerns are growing that another round of retaliation could widen the conflict further, increasing civilian casualties while threatening one of the world’s most important energy and shipping routes.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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