The escalation comes in the third week of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, which has left at least 2,000 people dead and disrupted critical energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Gulf targets hitIranian strikes hit oil and transport infrastructure in the UAE, where a drone struck a facility in Fujairah for a second consecutive day and debris from an intercepted missile fell in Abu Dhabi, killing one person, authorities said.

Rockets and drones also targeted the U.S. embassy in Baghdad in what Iraqi security sources described as the most intense such assault since the conflict began, though U.S. officials said no injuries were reported.Iran’s attacks have also extended to other Gulf states, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, signalling a broader regional response.

Trump remarks and intelligence warnings.Trump said the scope of Iran’s retaliation had come as a surprise. “They weren’t supposed to go after all these other countries in the Middle East.

Nobody expected that. We were shocked,” he said.However, U.S. officials and sources familiar with intelligence assessments said the president had been warned before the conflict that strikes on Iran could provoke retaliatory attacks against Gulf allies, particularly if Tehran perceived them as supporting U.S. operations.

There was no pause in hostilities, with Iran launching overnight missile strikes on Israel, demonstrating continued long-range strike capability despite sustained bombardment.

Israel said it carried out a fresh wave of strikes on targets in Tehran and positions linked to Hezbollah in Beirut, and signalled plans for several more weeks of military operations.

Energy and market impactThe widening conflict has kept the Strait of Hormuz largely constrained, as U.S. allies declined to join efforts to secure the waterway.

The disruption has raised concerns over energy supplies, pushed up oil prices and intensified fears of inflation globally.

The statement did not specify where the incident occurred or what operations the officers were involved in at the time. Officials also did not disclose their identities or whether other personnel were injured.The announcement comes as Kuwait and other Gulf states remain on heightened alert following a series of drone and missile launches from Iran after recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic. Several countries in the region have reported intercepting aerial threats amid escalating security concerns.

The Kuwait Fire Force said only that the two officers were killed “while performing duties,” offering no further explanation. Authorities have not indicated whether the deaths were connected to fire response operations, civil defense activities, or emergency support related to the ongoing regional security situation.The fire service in Kuwait functions as the primary authority responsible for firefighting, rescue operations, and emergency response across the country.

Gulf countries, including Kuwait, have taken precautionary measures in response to the deteriorating security environment following the recent attacks on Iran. Governments across the region have stepped up air defense monitoring and emergency preparedness in case of spillover from the broader confrontation.While Kuwait has not publicly reported damage from incoming projectiles, officials have acknowledged the interception of drones and missiles launched from Iran in recent days.The deaths of the two officers were announced as authorities continued monitoring developments across the Gulf, where heightened tensions have prompted increased vigilance among civil defense and emergency services.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to neighbouring states affected by Iranian strikes on U.S. military facilities in the region, urging them not to participate in the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran.“I personally apologize to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,” Pezeshkian said, according to remarks reported on Saturday.He rejected Trump’s demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender, describing it as unrealistic. Pezeshkian said Iran’s temporary leadership council had approved suspending attacks on nearby countries unless military strikes against Iran were launched from their territory.The comments drew criticism from hardline factions within Iran, prompting Pezeshkian’s office to clarify that Iran’s military would respond decisively to any attacks originating from U.S. bases in the region.Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on state television there was no division among Iranian officials over how the war was being managed.The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The conflict has intensified tensions across the Gulf, where several countries host U.S. military installations.Saudi Arabia warned Tehran that continued attacks on the kingdom or its energy infrastructure could prompt retaliation, four people familiar with the matter told Reuters.The governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates reported Iranian drone strikes on Saturday and early Sunday. Officials said the attacks caused varying degrees of damage but no fatalities.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards also targeted U.S. forces at a military base in Bahrain, Iranian state media reported.The escalating exchanges have raised concerns among Gulf states that the conflict could broaden further across the region, threatening energy infrastructure and key shipping routes.Global impact and security concernsThe war has also triggered wider international repercussions. Rising tensions in the region have contributed to higher energy prices and disrupted global logistics and commercial activity tied to Middle Eastern shipping and oil production.In Europe, a blast struck the U.S. embassy in Oslo, though authorities said the cause remained unknown.As military operations continued, governments across the region have sought to balance security concerns with efforts to prevent the conflict from expanding into a broader regional war involving additional states and armed groups.