Fresh waves of attacks struck Iran and several Gulf states on Friday as tensions in the Middle East war intensified, while Emmanuel Macron confirmed the death of a French soldier during an attack in northern Iraq.
According to reports, Israel carried out strikes on more than 200 targets in Iran within the past 24 hours, marking another phase in the ongoing military campaign launched jointly by Israel and the United States against Tehran.
The conflict has now entered its second week and continues to expand across the region, triggering economic concerns and fears of a wider war.
The crisis began on February 28 when joint strikes by Israel and the United States reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a development that significantly escalated hostilities in the region.
Although France is not directly involved in the bombing campaign, it maintains military forces in the Middle East.
President Macron announced on Friday that a French soldier was killed in an attack in the Erbil region of Iraq, while several others were injured.
French authorities said drones struck a military base where French troops were participating in counter-terrorism training exercises alongside Iraqi forces.
Paris described its military presence in the region as “strictly defensive.”
Earlier, a pro-Iranian armed group in Iraq, Ashab al-Kahf, had warned that French interests in the region could be targeted following the deployment of a French aircraft carrier, although no group has officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
In a separate development, the United States confirmed that one of its refuelling aircraft crashed in Iraq.
The US military stated that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
However, Iran’s military claimed an allied group had shot down the aircraft using a missile, killing the entire crew.
Security alerts were also reported in Turkey, where sirens sounded at the Incirlik Air Base, a key facility hosting US troops.
The alarm followed earlier reports that NATO air defences had intercepted a ballistic missile within Turkish airspace.
The growing conflict has sent shockwaves through global energy markets.
Oil prices remained above $100 per barrel on Friday despite a record release of strategic reserves.
The International Energy Agency warned that the war could trigger one of the largest supply disruptions in the history of the oil industry.
In an effort to stabilise markets, the United States announced plans to ease restrictions on Russian oil exports.
However, US President Donald Trump said defeating Iran remained a greater priority than concerns over rising crude prices.
Meanwhile, Iran has launched waves of drone and missile attacks against countries hosting US military bases. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its forces intercepted dozens of drones targeting the kingdom.
Authorities in Dubai reported that debris from an intercepted attack struck a building in a central district, though no major casualties were reported.
Israel also confirmed new Iranian missile attacks, with several people reportedly suffering minor injuries in the town of Zarzir.
Iranian officials have vowed to continue resisting the attacks. The country’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a defiant message calling for retaliation against the United States and its allies.
In a statement read on state television, he warned that Iran could use its strategic position to block the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route through which roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil passes.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign against Iran was intended to weaken Tehran and its regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.
However, Iran’s deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi insisted that Tehran was acting in self-defence and remained open to diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.
The conflict has taken a heavy toll on civilians across the region. In Iran, residents say daily life has been severely disrupted, with businesses closing and shortages of basic supplies reported in some areas.
Lebanese authorities said Israeli have killed at least 687 people in the country since the war began, including several victims in a recent attack on Beirut’s seafront where displaced families had taken refuge.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, nearly three million people have been displaced within Iran since the start of the conflict.
Iran’s health ministry has reported more than 1,200 deaths in the country, although the figure has not been independently verified.
Officials said the war has also claimed lives in Israel and several Gulf states, highlighting the growing regional impact of the escalating conflict.