Iran hits U.S. allies as regional conflict deepens

Key Points:

• Iran intensified attacks on U.S. Gulf allies, targeting military and civilian infrastructure in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia following a week of U.S. strikes on Iranian military sites, escalating tensions after a ceasefire collapse.
• Kuwait experienced missile and drone attacks damaging a desalination plant, oil facilities, and causing injuries among firefighters and oil workers; operations at Kuwait International Airport were suspended due to threats.
• Iranian strikes also hit power and water infrastructure in southern Iran, resulting in deaths, injuries, and water shortages affecting thousands in multiple villages, while U.N. officials expressed concern over the escalation and attacks on civilian infrastructure.
• Oil prices surged over 4% amid the conflict, heightening political pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of the November midterm elections, as both Washington and Tehran increase military actions around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
• Saudi Arabia faced Iranian missile attacks for the first time in months, with early warning alarms triggered near Riyadh and the Red Sea coast, including at a U.S.-hosted airbase, though official Saudi and Iranian sources provided limited details.