French President Emmanuel Macron has headed to the Gulf as violent protests and unrest rock France, putting his government under mounting pressure. Protesters reportedly attempted to move towards the Élysée Palace, while shops and public buildings were looted or set ablaze during clashes. French authorities arrested thousands, and the government is considering local curfews to contain further violence. Macron condemned the unrest but refused to dismiss his interior minister, despite acknowledging security failures. The protests have been fuelled by soaring living costs and wider public grievances.

Iranian strikes have reportedly inflicted significant damage on US military positions in Bahrain and Jordan, putting key American assets across West Asia under renewed pressure as the conflict continues to widen. A major focus is Bahrain, where the US Navy's Fifth Fleet operates from a strategically important military hub. A senior US official described the damage in stark terms, saying, "They blew the hell out of Bahrain," as American personnel assess the impact of the Iranian barrage. US sailors have reportedly been instructed to stay away from the Bahrain facility while damage assessments and repairs continue, raising fresh questions over the future of operations at the critical naval and logistics hub. Iranian attacks have also reportedly targeted a US-linked air base in Jordan. Reports indicate that an A-10 aircraft was left without a wing, while eight F-15 fighter aircraft were damaged in the attack. WATCH