US-Iran War News Updates: Biggest Bombing Attack Tonight, Announces Bessent; Qatar Targeted By Iranian Drones

Israel and the United States are deploying and testing several new or lesser‑known weapons systems in the ongoing Middle East conflict — among them Israel’s “Blue Sparrow” missile and a US‑made drone modeled on Iranian designs, which has now been used against Iran itself.

These emerging technologies are beginning to play a prominent role in shaping the battlefield dynamics.

Crude oil prices have surged amid growing concerns that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could disrupt global supply. Brent, the international benchmark, jumped to $92.69 a barrel on Friday — an 8.5% increase for the day and nearly 30% higher over the week — following Donald Trump’s declaration that the war would continue until Iran agreed to “unconditional surrender.”

Meanwhile, the US benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, climbed more than 12%, rising above $90 a barrel and marking its largest weekly increase on record, according to AFP.

Lebanon’s state‑run National News Agency (NNA) reported on Saturday that fighting had broken out along the Lebanon–Syria frontier as Israeli forces attempted a landing operation in the area. Hezbollah said its fighters were engaged in the clashes.

According to the NNA, citing figures from the Lebanese health ministry, Israeli strikes on the town of Nabi Sheet resulted in at least three deaths and left 16 people injured. The agency added that battles were underway along the eastern mountain range on the border as fighters sought to repel Israeli landing attempts.

The US State Department has authorised an “emergency” sale of 12,000 bomb casings to Israel as the two countries continue military operations against Iran amid a rapidly intensifying regional conflict.

According to a statement from the State Department’s Bureau of Political‑Military Affairs, the approved package includes 1,000‑pound (450‑kilogram) bomb bodies valued at approximately $151.8 million.

AFP journalists reported hearing explosions on Saturday in both Dubai and Bahrain’s capital, Manama, as Iran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf entered their second week. Witnesses said two blasts were audible in Dubai, while Manama experienced one explosion accompanied by warning sirens.

Bahrain’s interior ministry issued an alert on X urging people to stay calm and move to the nearest safe location.

Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that its air defence systems intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, a facility that hosts US military personnel. In a message posted on X, the Saudi defence ministry said the missile, launched toward the base southeast of Riyadh, was detected and destroyed before it could reach its target.

Separately, the official Saudi Press Agency reported that a defence ministry spokesperson confirmed the military had also foiled a drone attack directed at a major oil field near the border with the United Arab Emirates.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent indicated in a Fox Business interview that the Treasury Department could consider lifting additional sanctions on certain Russian oil shipments to help increase global supply amid ongoing US military operations against Iran. He explained that there are “hundreds of millions of barrels” of sanctioned Russian crude currently sitting on the water, and that easing restrictions on some of these volumes could effectively add supply to the market.

Bessent said the Treasury plans to continue announcing measures aimed at easing pressure on energy markets throughout the conflict, noting that the administration intends to maintain a steady pace of actions designed to bring relief.

The US Central Command issued a statement on X addressing recent developments involving Iran and Bahrain, warning that Iranian attacks on Bahrain “will not go unanswered.”

The command also condemned strikes on civilians in Bahrain, calling them unacceptable.
 

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News that Washington is preparing what he described as its most extensive round of airstrikes against Iran. He called the planned operation the “biggest bombing campaign” to date.

According to Bessent, the upcoming strikes will focus heavily on destroying Iran’s missile launch sites and the facilities that manufacture those weapons. “Tonight will be our largest bombing operation — we’re going to inflict the most damage on their missile launchers and the factories producing them,” he said, adding that the US effort so far has been “overwhelming” and has significantly weakened Iran’s capabilities.

Reuters has reported that the US State Department has said that it has authorized a potential foreign military sale to Israel, covering munitions and related support valued at $151.8 million.