Tensions across the Middle East surged dramatically as the ongoing US-Iran conflict entered a more volatile phase, spilling across multiple countries and triggering global concern.
In Iraq, the US Embassy in Baghdad issued a high-alert warning, stating that Iran-backed militia groups could launch attacks in central Baghdad within the next 24 to 48 hours. The advisory urged all American citizens to leave Iraq immediately, signalling fears of imminent escalation beyond direct battlefield zones.
Simultaneously, Israel faced an intense barrage of Iranian missile attacks. According to Israeli military statements, at least four waves of missiles were launched within a span of six hours, targeting multiple regions. Air defence systems were activated repeatedly, intercepting several threats, though some impacts were reported in central Israel, leaving a handful of people with light injuries.
The situation was further aggravated by Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Lebanese group, which claimed responsibility for launching rockets and drones into northern Israel. These attacks triggered widespread air raid sirens and forced civilians into shelters, raising fears of a broader regional war involving Lebanon.
The Gulf region also witnessed spillover effects. Authorities in Abu Dhabi confirmed that a missile was intercepted near the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), causing minor damage but no casualties. This marks a worrying expansion of the conflict footprint into key economic hubs.
On the diplomatic and military front, US President Donald Trump adopted an aggressive stance, announcing that American forces would intensify strikes on Iran over the next two to three weeks. He claimed that US operations had already severely weakened Iran’s military infrastructure and that victory was near. However, his remarks also reflected domestic pressure, acknowledging that American public patience for the war may be limited.
Economic repercussions were immediate, with oil prices jumping more than 4% and Asian markets declining amid fears of disruption to global energy supplies, especially through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
As missile exchanges, proxy attacks, and geopolitical rhetoric intensify, the conflict shows signs of widening further, with regional stability and global markets hanging in the balance.