U.S.-Iran Conflict Escalates into Regional War across Middle East

The ongoing war between the United States and Iran has escalated into multiple fronts across the Middle East, with various groups and countries involved in the conflict.

The key point of contention is the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and carries about 20% of the world's traded oil. The U.S. and Iran have been at odds over who controls the strait, with the U.S. insisting it should be open to all international traffic.

The Houthis in Yemen, backed by Iran, have declared a blockade on Saudi Arabia, threatening shipping through another major trade route leading through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea up to Egypt's Suez Canal. This has led to a decrease in transits through the Bab al-Mandeb strait.

The Saudi-led coalition, with U.S. support, bombed militia sites in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. The conflict is also affecting other countries in the region, including Egypt, where a drone attack on its Mediterranean port set two natural gas vessels ablaze.