Middle East: US hits Iran radar sites, Kuwait under fire

The US military conducted airstrikes on Iranian radar and drone sites, escalating tensions in the Middle East. In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had attacked a US base, marking a direct retaliation for the US actions. Kuwait reported missile and drone attacks, prompting its air defenses to respond. The strikes came amid broader regional instability, with Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, stating that any ceasefire violations—including Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon—would be treated as a breach across all fronts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously ordered military strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, where Hezbollah operates. Iran’s judiciary executed two men, Mehdad Mohammadi-Nia and Ashkan Malek, for protest-related crimes tied to January’s anti-government demonstrations. The executions follow over a dozen similar cases since protests erupted in December over economic hardship and political repression. Iran remains one of the world’s leading executioners, with Amnesty International reporting at least 2,159 executions in 2025 alone. Top Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of violating the ceasefire through a naval blockade of Iranian ports and Israel’s ongoing offensive in Lebanon. He warned that continued aggression would have consequences, framing the actions as deliberate noncompliance with diplomatic efforts to de-escalate. The conflict stems from Israel’s February strikes on Iran-backed targets, which prompted Hezbollah to launch attacks in support of Tehran. Iran has insisted any ceasefire must include an end to Israeli hostilities against Hezbollah, while regional powers remain locked in a cycle of retaliation. The latest exchanges raise fears of a wider war in the Middle East.