Trump Says US 'Locked and Loaded' as Regional Tensions Escalate Across Middle East

World

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN – Tensions across the Middle East continued to intensify as US President Donald Trump said Washington is "talking to Tehran as we speak", while warning that the United States remains "locked and loaded" despite suggesting that a "massive" military strike against Iran may not be necessary.

Air raid sirens were activated in Bahrain after Iran said it was continuing to target US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led Coalition Joint Forces Command announced that it had carried out strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen's Hodeidah Governorate, stating that the operation did not target Hodeidah Port. Houthi-affiliated media, however, reported that telecommunications and port facilities were hit, and said a woman was injured on Kamaran Island during the attacks.

In the occupied West Bank, violence involving Israeli settlers escalated sharply following an incident that developed into a shootout, leaving four Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers dead.

Amid growing concern over the deteriorating security situation, twenty Israeli human rights organisations issued a joint appeal urging the international community to take immediate action to halt escalating violence involving settler militias and the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank.

The latest developments come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside heightened military activity, with fears mounting that the conflict could further expand across the region.