DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran expanded its retaliation on Tuesday by striking the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as Washington began pulling non-essential personnel from several Middle Eastern countries amid an escalating regional conflict.
Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said two drones targeted the embassy compound, causing a “limited fire.” The U.S. Embassy urged American citizens to avoid the area. The incident followed an earlier attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, which announced its closure until further notice.
The widening hostilities come as the United States and Israel continue airstrikes against Iran. President Donald Trump suggested the campaign could mark the beginning of a prolonged war, saying operations might last four to five weeks and potentially longer. He also did not rule out deeper U.S. military involvement, including the possibility of deploying ground forces.
The initial U.S.-Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. While Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government following the strike, senior U.S. officials later said regime change was not an explicit objective. The administration cited concerns ranging from Iran’s nuclear and missile programs to broader leadership issues.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, at least 787 people have been killed in Iran since the conflict intensified. In Israel, Iranian missile strikes have left 11 dead. In Lebanon, retaliatory Israeli airstrikes following attacks by the Iran-backed group Hezbollah have killed 52 people.
The U.S. military confirmed six American service members have died in the fighting, while additional fatalities were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
Explosions continued to echo across Tehran overnight into Tuesday. Iranian state television reported two blasts at a broadcasting facility in the capital but said no injuries occurred.
The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility sustained “some recent damage,” though no radiological consequences were expected. The United States previously struck Natanz during a 12-day conflict in June, which significantly weakened Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Iran was rebuilding underground sites for nuclear weapons production but did not provide evidence. Iran has denied enriching uranium since June and maintains its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
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. American citizens have also been urged to leave more than a dozen countries in the region, though widespread airspace closures have left many stranded.
Iranian retaliation has extended beyond diplomatic targets. Recent attacks included strikes on energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, as well as incidents affecting ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s traded oil passes.
Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the Revolutionary Guard, declared that the Strait of Hormuz was closed and warned that vessels attempting to pass through would face attack. Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said Iranian strikes “will not go unanswered.”
Iran has also targeted infrastructure in Gulf states, including data centers in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, contributing to mounting economic uncertainty and rising global oil and natural gas prices.
The conflict has further expanded into Lebanon. Hezbollah fired missiles into Israel earlier this week, prompting Israeli retaliatory airstrikes on Beirut and southern Lebanon. The Israeli military said it deployed additional troops to southern Lebanon and secured new strategic positions near the border.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that the Lebanese army was evacuating some border positions. Senior Hezbollah official Mohamoud Komati said the group now had no choice but to continue fighting Israel.
With casualties mounting, oil markets disrupted, and military operations intensifying across multiple fronts, questions remain about the duration and scope of the war, as regional and global powers brace for further escalation.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
