Missile alert sirens in Bahrain amid US-Iran standoff over Strait of Hormuz

Dubai: The United States launched several waves of strikes on Iran into Monday morning over an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set it ablaze and left a crew member missing over the weekend. Iran retaliated by targeting countries across the Middle East.

Missile alert sirens sounded at dawn Monday in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet. There was no immediate word on damage.

Iranian state media acknowledged the latest attacks on its soil early Monday, describing explosions in several locations with at least one person being killed.


Also read: Iran expands attacks on Gulf states after US strikes, says Strait of Hormuz closed

Iranian attacks on Sunday stretched Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and even Oman - whose territorial waters with Iran make up the strait. The narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, which once saw a fifth of all oil and natural gas pass through it, has become the key issue challenging an interim deal between the US and Iran.

Iran and the US are nearly at the midway point of the 60-day period of that deal, which was supposed to set up talks for a permanent end to the war. Instead, it has devolved into a series of attacks over the strait and its future, worrying world leaders the Iran war could resume.

"A return to full-scale hostilities would have catastrophic consequences," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement.