Middle East on edge: 10 key developments as US aircraft hit in Kuwait, Saudi oil hub targeted

Several US military aircraft were damaged in Kuwait on Monday, authorities confirmed, as fighting between Iran and the US-Israel alliance intensified across the Middle East. Kuwaiti officials said all American personnel on board were safely evacuated and are in stable condition.

The incident comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities following large-scale US-Israeli strikes inside Iran last week. Iran has since responded with missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and key locations across the Gulf.

Advertisement

Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense said search and rescue teams were deployed immediately after the aircraft were brought down. Injured personnel were moved to hospitals, and investigators are examining what caused the damage. Colonel Saad Al Atwan, the ministry’s spokesperson, said the crews had been transferred for medical evaluation and were stable. He added that Kuwaiti authorities were in direct contact with their US counterparts.

Iranian state-linked media later shared images on Telegram claiming to show an American F-15 pilot after a jet crashed in Kuwait earlier in the day.

Also Read: US F-15 down in Kuwait? Iran shares video showing fighter jet engulfed in flames, pilots ejecting

10 key developments as conflict spreads

1. Multiple US military aircraft were reported damaged. All crew members were evacuated safely, according to Kuwaiti officials.
2. After a brief lull overnight, Iran fired new missiles and drones targeting Israel and Gulf states on Monday, according to reports from regional media.
3. Several outlets, including Russia Today, Press TV Iran and Israel’s i24 News, reported a drone strike at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, which is one of the world’s largest oil export terminals.
4. The Jerusalem Post, quoting a Semafor reporter, said a small and contained fire had broken out at the refinery following what appeared to be a drone strike. The situation was later described as under control.
5. Iranian media claimed that Salman Port in Bahrain was struck by a missile. The report said the port was allegedly being used to move US logistical equipment.
6. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued a statement saying the “tenth wave” of its operation, referred to as “Operation True Promise”, had begun, describing it as opening “massive gates of fire” using Khaibar missiles.
7. Iranian state channels circulated footage they said showed large-scale drone deployments and strikes on US-Israeli targets.
8. Amichai Stein, diplomatic correspondent at Israel’s i24 News, said senior Gulf officials expressed surprise at the scale of Iran’s response. In a post on X, he quoted one official as saying attacks were now aimed at “population centers” and were beyond what they expected.
9. A broad corridor of Middle Eastern airspace remained restricted. Airlines across the region cancelled or rerouted flights. Major hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha were affected, disrupting thousands of passengers. Germany’s TUI Cruises said two ships would not continue scheduled sailings.
10. Several governments are working on plans to bring stranded citizens home. Some countries have already announced evacuation measures. In India, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was taking steps to ensure the safe return of Indian nationals caught in the conflict.

How the latest escalation began

The current surge in violence follows coordinated US and Israeli air and missile strikes inside Iran on February 28. The operation, referred to as “Operation Epic Fury” or “Roaring Lion”, targeted military facilities, missile systems, nuclear-related infrastructure and leadership compounds.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes have since expanded beyond Israel, drawing Gulf states deeper into the crisis and raising concerns about energy security and global oil supplies.

World leaders have urged restraint while cautioning that further escalation could destabilise the wider region.