Regional tensions surge as Iran strikes Gulf, US-Israeli attacks hit Zanjan

Escalating hostilities between Iran and a US-Israeli alliance have triggered a fresh wave of violence across the Middle East, with strikes, interceptions and political rhetoric intensifying across multiple fronts overnight.

Fire near KEZAD

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said early on Saturday they were responding to two fires near the Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), caused by debris from the interception of a ballistic missile, according to Reuters.

Civilians killed in Zanjan strike

At least five people were killed and seven others injured in a reported US-Israeli strike on a residential building in the northwestern Iranian city of Zanjan, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

The attack, which occurred shortly after midnight, targeted an apartment block, raising concerns about civilian casualties as the conflict increasingly spills into urban areas.

Explosions rock Damascus amid uncertainty

In neighbouring Damascus, Syrian state television reported explosions in the capital and surrounding countryside. The cause of the blasts remains unclear, with no immediate claim of responsibility.

The developments come as regional tensions continue to spill over into multiple theatres.

Gulf states activate defences against Iranian attacks

Iran’s retaliatory campaign has extended across the Gulf, prompting heightened defensive responses.

Authorities in Bahrain issued repeated warnings urging residents to seek shelter after alarm sirens were activated twice within an hour. The alerts followed an earlier Iranian strike that reportedly targeted an unspecified facility, sparking a fire that has since been brought under control.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems were actively intercepting Iranian cruise missiles and drones aimed at the country.

In Saudi Arabia, officials confirmed the interception and destruction of a ballistic missile targeting the Riyadh region, underscoring the widening geographic scope of the conflict.

US troops wounded in Saudi base strike

A US official told Reuters that 12 American troops were wounded — including two seriously — in an Iranian strike on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

The latest casualties bring the total number of US service members injured since the war began on February 28 to more than 300, highlighting the mounting human cost of the conflict.

Trump escalates rhetoric on Iran, NATO

Amid the intensifying conflict, US President Donald Trump struck a defiant tone, insisting Iran must reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic as a condition for peace.

In a controversial remark, he referred to the vital shipping lane as the “Strait of Trump”, later calling the comment a “mistake” before adding that “there’s no accidents with me”.

Trump also criticised NATO, suggesting the United States may reconsider its commitment to the alliance after it failed to provide material backing in the ongoing war.

“They just weren’t there,” he said, questioning whether Washington should continue its longstanding security guarantees.

Conflict shows no sign of slowing

With civilian casualties mounting, missile exchanges intensifying, and political rhetoric hardening, the conflict shows little sign of de-escalation.

The widening scope of attacks — from Iran to the Gulf and beyond — signals an increasingly volatile regional landscape, raising fears of a broader and more prolonged confrontation.