DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahrain intercepted an Iranian aerial attack early Wednesday, as Tehran continued to fire on allies of the United States in the Gulf region despite threats from President Donald Trump to escalate American military attacks.

Bahrain, which hosts an important U.S. naval base, said its air defense systems intercepted incoming fire from Iran, accusing Iran of “attacks targeting civilians” in a statement issued by its military. After a respite of more than a month, fighting between the U.

S. and Iran has been increasing since the weekend after the American military hit Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz and Iran retaliated by firing missiles at American bases in Jordan, which were all intercepted.

The renewed violence threatens to threatens to fully reignite a conflict that is now in its seventh month and has led to a spike in oil prices, roiled the global economy and is posing increasing political problems for Trump's Republican party ahead of November midterm elections.

Since the fighting resumed, the price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, climbed above $95, up more than 30% from the start of the war. Ahead of the morning attacks on Bahrain, Iran fired missiles at Jordan and drones at Kuwait all of which were intercepted.

On Monday, the United Arab Emirates said it had intercepted an incoming Iranian drone over its waters as well. The U.S. Central Command said it had completed the latest barrage against Iranian military targets including air defense sites, radar systems and maritime assets.

One U.S. strike hit a home hosting a wedding, according to Iranian media. At least five people were killed, including a child, and wounding at least 68 others, according to Iranian officials. The U.S. military said it was aware of the report but that it “never targets civilians.

” During last month's the lull in fighting, the U.S. ramped up economic pressure on Iran, which is suffering from soaring inflation, negative growth and a collapsing currency, as Washington sought to win concessions to fully open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping traffic.

About a fifth of the world's traded oil was shipped through the key waterway before Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran on Feb. 28 and Iran largely shut it down. Despite many pronouncements from Washington that the strait is open, only a handful of ships are making the passage each day and Iran has regularly attacked vessels.

In launching its latest attacks, U.S. Central Command said it was responding to Tehran trying to hit commercial ships and American forces in the Middle East. Late Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would not force Iran to the bargaining table.

“I couldn’t care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing. They are just playing out the inevitable. When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?

” Trump wrote on social media. Earlier, Trump had appeared to pivot toward trying to bend Iran to his will through economic sanctions. He warned that if Iran retaliated for the new strikes, “they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level.

” ___ Finley reported from Washington.

U.S. Central Command stated that it conducted strikes on over 80 military sites along Iran's southern coast on July 7, 2026, in response to reported multi-vessel maritime attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. While the United States claims the operations targeted anti-ship missile and radar systems, independent verification of the specific scale, nature, and casualties of the campaign remains unavailable.

The U.S. military has reportedly struck two Iranian government tankers and approximately 100 other targets, following a reported presidential approval of a “tanker for tanker” policy aimed at deterring Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. While U.

S. officials claim that recent Iranian strikes on U.S. assets failed, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has alleged that a U.S. strike on a wedding in Kuhestak killed or injured more than 50 civilians, a claim that the White House has not yet commented on.

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand — The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier arrived Wednesday at a port in eastern Thailand, where thousands of U.S. sailors and Marines are disembarking for the first time in more than 280 days after a record-setting deployment in the Middle East.

The toll of the more than nine-month deployment, most of it spent supporting military operations in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, was visible on the carrier as it pulled into Laem Chabang Port in Chonburi province. Paint has worn off and the metal underneath is rusted on the 1,092-foot warship, which is one of the largest in the world.

The Lincoln is in Thailand for a four-day “rest and relaxation” stop on its way home to San Diego after having spent weeks in the headlines as the lengthy deployment raised concerns about supply shortages and the effect on sailors’ mental health. The U.

S. Navy confirmed the ship’s arrival in a statement, saying the Lincoln strike group arrived in Laem Chabang while the destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. docked in nearby Sriracha and the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls went to Map Ta Phut in neighboring Rayong province.

The Navy said it was the Lincoln’s first full port stop after 286 days at sea since the deployment began in November. Thai police crackdown on sex workers “Our arrival in Laem Chabang provides a well-deserved opportunity for our sailors and Marines to rest and recharge,” said Rear Adm.

Robert E. Loughran, commander of Carrier Strike Group 3. “It also underscores the strong and enduring partnership and alliance between the United States and Thailand.” Service members could be seen working aboard the deck of the Lincoln as loudspeakers played announcements about the process for disembarkation.

“I’m excited, as excited as you are,” a commanding officer could be heard saying over loudspeaker. About 5,000 sailors and Marines are expected to hit the streets of Pattaya, a nearby coastal resort city that is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand.

Each service member will get three “liberty days” and one day of duty aboard the ship, a U.S. military official said. Locals in tourism-dependent Pattaya have eagerly awaited the arrival of the Lincoln, which pulled into sight from the shore after sunrise before it made a wide turn and harbored itself at a major cargo terminal.

Officials in Pattaya, where international tourist arrivals have dropped because of travel disruptions and soaring fuel prices stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, say the visit is expected to inject about $3 million into the local economy.

Authorities have stepped up security, with heightened police patrols and checks along the roads. Businesses here are also trying to woo the sailors, with some putting up banners to welcome them. Wichai Yuankham, 35, a factory worker who came to watch the ships arrive, said the naval visit was a welcome boost to the local economy.

“I am just excited to see the destroyer docking,” he said. “This is my first time seeing the destroyer, and I feel good seeing it, and we can boast to our neighboring countries about this.