DID Press: Rising tensions across West Asia overnight have, according to Iranian accounts, highlighted a shift in the regional balance of power in favor of Iran. Tehran asserted that it not only seized the operational initiative but also demonstrated that its deterrence capability has moved beyond warnings to active enforcement.
In the early hours of the night, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps launched two waves of what it described as the “True Promise 4” operation targeting United States military bases across the region. Iranian loitering drones and precision missiles reportedly struck facilities in United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, aiming at radar systems that Iran claims function as part of a defensive network supporting Israel.
A further phase of the operation reportedly targeted the Al‑Kharj Military Base in Saudi Arabia, which Iranian sources described as a hub for US fighter aircraft including F‑35 Lightning II and F‑16 Fighting Falcon. Western media reports cited by Iranian outlets, including Daily Mail, suggested that as many as 17 US bases were damaged during the attacks.
In Iraq, the night was also marked by intense incidents. Fires were reported at the Camp Victory, while explosions were reported near US installations in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah. Operations at the Lanaaz Oil Field were reportedly halted after the site was targeted. Analysts say these developments highlight the vulnerability of the US military presence in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump stated that countries relying on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz should take responsibility for protecting the waterway themselves, a position some analysts interpret as a signal that United States may be unwilling to shoulder regional security costs alone.
At the same time, France said it would not deploy a warship to the Strait of Hormuz. The The Economist warned that prolonged disruption in the strait could drive global oil prices to between $150 and $200 per barrel, underscoring the strategic leverage associated with the waterway.
On Israel’s northern front, Hezbollah reportedly fired rockets at Israeli troop concentrations near the border, while missile strikes toward Eilat and clashes in frontier towns kept Israel engaged on multiple fronts.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Iran had launched around 400 ballistic missiles toward Israel since the escalation began. US sources cited by the paper warned of a shortage of interceptor missiles in Israel, prompting the Israeli cabinet to approve emergency procurement of additional weapons.
In Tehran, Iranian officials emphasized that their operations target only the United States and Israel. A spokesman for the Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters stated that attacks reported in other regional states were carried out using “fake drones resembling Shahed‑136” intended to create divisions among Muslim countries.
Additional explosions were reported in Bahrain, described by witnesses as among the largest since the start of attacks on US bases. Meanwhile, Switzerland closed its airspace to US military flights linked to the Iran conflict, reflecting European concerns about the widening scope of the crisis.