Attacks continue across Middle East, no sign of war winding down

US brings down bridge in Iran, attacks continue across Middle East

Mohan Sinha
04 Apr 2026, 07:06 GMT+10

There is little sign of the war in the Mideast winding down as Israel said it faced incoming fire, and Kuwait and Bahrain reported being under attack from Iran.
Iran’s attacks on Arab states, along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, have disrupted the world’s energy supplies with effects far beyond the Middle East.
In Iran, more than 1,900 people have been killed, in Israel, the toll is 19, while in Lebanon, the deaths have climbed to 1,300, with more than one million displaced.

DUBAI, U.A.E.: The war in Iran showed no signs of ebbing with Israel saying it faced incoming fire, and Kuwait and Bahrain reporting being attacked by Iran, while Iran said eight people were killed celebrating the close of the Persian New Year near a bridge brought down by a U.S. strike.

Iran strongly criticized the attack on the bridge, which injured 95 people who were celebrating Nature Day. This is a holiday when people go outside for picnics on the last day of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that attacking civilian places shows that the enemy is weak and morally failing.

Iran's actions against Arab countries and its control over the Strait of Hormuz have disturbed global energy supplies, affecting countries far beyond the Middle East. This has become Iran's biggest advantage in the war. The United Kingdom held talks with about 40 countries on how to reopen the strait after the war ends.

Donald Trump said the strait could be taken back by force, but added that the U.S. should not be the one to do it. In a speech, he urged countries that depend on oil from the strait to take action themselves. Before the war began on February 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the route was open and carried about 20 percent of the world's traded oil.

Iran reacted strongly to Trump's claims that U.S. actions had weakened it. A military spokesman said Iran still has hidden weapons and facilities, and that the sites hit so far are not important. Trump, however, said U.S. goals in the war are close to being achieved.

Iranian state media reported that the B1 bridge, which was still being built, was attacked. Trump shared a video claiming it showed Iran's biggest bridge collapsing and warned that more attacks would come, though it was unclear if it was the same bridge.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Hezbollah forces backed by Iran, Israeli strikes killed 27 people in one day, according to health officials.

So far, more than 1,900 people have died in Iran and 19 in Israel during the war. Over two dozen people have died in Arab countries, and the West Bank, and 13 U.S. soldiers have also been killed.

In Lebanon, more than 1,300 people have died, and over one million have been forced to leave their homes, with 10 Israeli soldiers also killed.

Iran's attacks on around two dozen commercial ships, and the risk of more, have almost completely stopped traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the open sea.

Shipping data shows traffic in the strait has fallen by 94 percent compared to last year. Only two ships paid fees to pass, while the others were allowed through under agreements with their governments.

To avoid the strait, Saudi Arabia moved about one billion barrels of oil through pipelines in March, while Iraq began transporting oil by truck through Syria.

About 35 countries, including most G7 nations, the UAE, and Bahrain, signed a statement last month asking Iran to stop blocking the strait. However, no country is willing to use force to reopen it while the war continues. France's President Emmanuel Macron called such a military action unrealistic.