Capitals: Europe and the Arabs

Oil prices surged again on Wednesday, with Brent crude surpassing $95 a barrel.

This increase is attributed to escalating violence in the Middle East, as the United States and Iran exchanged attacks again overnight. As a result, this price hike threatens to disrupt oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude rose by approximately 1% to $95.49 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude climbed 0.6% to $90.72 a barrel. European media outlets focused on the rapidly unfolding events in the region. The Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, based in Brussels, ran the headline:

Iran Announces Eleven Killed in US Airstrikes

The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported that at least eleven people were killed in US airstrikes between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Seven people were killed and eight others wounded in a missile attack on Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. In the city of Kuhstak, near the Strait of Hormuz, four people were killed at a wedding, according to IRNA. The US military announced in a statement that it had attacked targets belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. According to US Central Command, the targets included anti-aircraft facilities, radar systems, mine-laying capabilities, and communications sites. Iran responded by launching airstrikes against US targets in the Gulf region, including in Jordan and Kuwait.

Israel launches airstrikes in Lebanon
Al Jazeera correspondents reported that the Israeli military launched two airstrikes in southern Lebanon, in the suburbs of Kfar Rumman and Arab Salim.

Israeli military intercepts aerial target coming from Lebanon
The Israeli military warned on Tuesday night that a "hostile aircraft" had entered Israeli airspace over northern Israel. In a later statement, the military said that "interceptor missiles" were launched against a "suspected aerial target that apparently entered the country from Lebanese territory." The statement confirmed that there were no casualties.

Trump: "When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?"

In a post on his Truth Social platform, US President Donald Trump denied trying to force Iran to the negotiating table, "as claimed by the fake news network ABC." “I don’t care if they sign an agreement that’s worthless to them. I think our current situation is much better. We have almost complete control of the Strait of Hormuz, while their economy is collapsing. They’re simply doing what they have to do.”

“When will the Iranian people rise up and fight?” Trump asks.

Iranian Colonel: “A large number of American soldiers were killed and wounded.”

Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces Command Center, says Iranian forces have launched retaliatory attacks on US bases in the region. During these attacks, a “large number” of American soldiers were reportedly killed or wounded, and significant damage was inflicted on infrastructure and weapons. Zolfaghari made this statement in a speech broadcast on Iranian state television, according to Al Jazeera.

“These offensive operations against the Americans will continue until they regret their crimes,” the Iranian colonel said. He added that any country cooperating with the US military must bear the consequences. Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced early Tuesday night that several US soldiers were killed in attacks targeting American facilities in Jordan and Iraq. Authorities in both Jordan and Kuwait reported hostile airstrikes, while Bahrain warned of a potential threat. Iran claimed responsibility for an attack on the Sheikh Isa US base in Bahrain. The Tasnim news agency reported that the Iranian military targeted radar installations and US troop assembly points.

"Iran attacks US facilities in Iraq, killing American soldiers"

Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced a missile and drone attack on US facilities in Iraq. Reports indicated that several American soldiers were killed in the attack. Al Jazeera quoted the Revolutionary Guard as saying this in a statement broadcast by Iranian state television.

The attack, which took place in the northern province of Erbil, reportedly destroyed a maintenance center and warehouses containing technical equipment, as well as an American guidance system for surveillance balloons. Al Jazeera also reported, citing the statement, that fuel tanks caught fire. This is believed to be in retaliation for a US airstrike that targeted a wedding in Iran, killing four people, including a child.

Sirens sound in Bahrain
AFP correspondents reported that sirens would sound in Bahrain during the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. Local authorities urged residents to "remain calm, seek shelter in the nearest safe place, and obtain information from official channels to ensure public safety," according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Peru cuts diplomatic ties with Iran
Peru has severed diplomatic relations with Iran, accusing Tehran of fueling conflict in the Middle East and obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Accordingly, the Peruvian government decided to cut diplomatic ties with Iran, the Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday. Consular relations will remain in place to protect the citizens of both countries.

This move comes just days after Chile closed its embassy in Iran for security reasons. The Chilean government confirmed at the time that diplomatic relations with Iran had not been severed. Since late July, Peru has been led by right-wing President Keiko Fujimori, an ally of US President Donald Trump.