Strait of Hormuz
Dubai: Iran launched a drone attack targeting Bahrain, while a ship in the Strait of Hormuz separately came under attack on Saturday, in what appeared to be Tehran’s response to overnight US airstrikes.
The incidents across the Persian Gulf have raised fresh concerns that the conflict could escalate again, despite Iran and the US reaching an interim deal aimed at securing a final agreement to end the war.
The latest attacks came after US airstrikes that followed an Iranian drone attack on a ship attempting to leave the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday.
That incident was part of a series of attacks that have shaken the fragile ceasefire and renewed fears over maritime security in one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Bahrain said a “number of Iranian drones” targeted the country and described the attack as “a flagrant threat to the security of citizens and residents.”
Iran’s targeting of Bahrain is significant as the Gulf kingdom is one of Tehran’s strongest critics and hosts the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.
Separately, a multinational maritime body overseen by the US Navy said it would expand a route near Oman’s shores in the Strait of Hormuz to allow both inbound and outbound traffic.
The move is expected to ease maritime movement in the region, but it could also become a fresh point of tension with Tehran.
Bahrain had recently hosted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for a meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council foreign ministers.
The meeting ended with a call for an end to Iran’s attacks and for the Strait of Hormuz to remain completely open for international shipping.
The latest drone and maritime incidents underline the continued risk of escalation across the Persian Gulf.
Security agencies and regional governments remain on alert as diplomatic efforts continue to prevent the conflict from spiralling further.
