Escalating conflicts in the Middle East resulted in civilian deaths in Iran and the UAE as US and Israeli forces targeted Iranian sites.
Two teenagers were killed in Shiraz, Iran, on Wednesday evening in an assault on a residential area, according to Iranian media reports. The victims were identified as Ilya and Amir Hossein Sharafi from the village of Kafri, amid the ongoing US-Israel military actions against Iran.
Hours later, the Israeli military announced it was launching extensive strikes on Isfahan in central Iran on Thursday, escalating the conflict. These strikes followed reports of attacks in other locations, including Bandar Abbas, Karaj, and the Lamerd airport in Fars province.
Regional Impacts of the Strikes
Attacks also targeted Mashhad and Taybad in Razavi Khorasan province near the Afghanistan border, indicating a widening geographic scope of the US-Israeli campaign. Al Jazeera's correspondent in Tehran described the assaults as increasing in intensity and number.
In the United Arab Emirates, two people were killed in Abu Dhabi after debris from an intercepted missile fell on a main road, as reported by UAE authorities. This incident highlights the spillover effects of the conflict into neighboring countries.
Meanwhile, Iran launched a missile barrage that injured several people in central Israel, including three in Kfar Qasim east of Tel Aviv, according to the Arutz Sheva news outlet. Sirens were activated across central Israel, the Jerusalem area, and parts of the occupied West Bank.
US President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that a ceasefire deal was near, despite Iran's rejection of his 15-point plan. Trump claimed negotiations were underway, though Iranian leaders denied any contact, adding to the uncertainty of diplomatic efforts.
Gulf states reported additional defensive actions, with Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence saying it shot down five drones over the Eastern province. Kuwait's National Guard intercepted two drones targeting vital sites, and Bahrain extinguished a fire at a facility in Muharraq governorate with no injuries reported.
