A surveillance tower at Iran’s strategically important Chabahar Port on the Gulf of Oman was reportedly damaged in fresh US airstrikes as tensions in West Asia escalated once again.
Images on social media depicted the tower plummeting with dust and smoke billowing around. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently released a photo evidently of the damaged facility, but there is no official confirmation of how heavy the hit was.
The Chabahar port also is strategically important as a key trade hub to Afghanistan and has been enhanced with India’s assistance to improve the region’s connectivity.
Meanwhile, maritime security concerns grew as the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a trading vessel that was operating in the waters off the coast of Oman was hit overnight by some unknown projectile in the waters. There was slight damage to the equipment but all on board was reported safe. This was near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s high-priority shipping lanes.
The Health Ministry said US attacks since June 22 have inflicted 38 casualties and caused injuries of over 400, with eight casualties and 20 injuries reported in overnight attacks.
In Jordan, a military official said that the missiles were launched on the lives of civilians, but haven’t killed anyone or damaged anything so far.
In addition, Iran said it had attacked US military equipment in Kuwait, and authorities in Kuwait confirmed that they were responding to drone and missile strikes. Similarly attacks were reported in Bahrain and Qatar, where Qatari officials said that an incoming missile hit and injured a child as its debris fell to earth after hitting targets and getting destroyed in the air defence system.
Recent events have fuelled further fears of an all out regional war.