Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have destroyed an American early-warning radar system in Bahrain, marking a major development in the escalating Iran-US confrontation. According to Iranian state media, the IRGC Aerospace Force targeted the US military radar in retaliation for an alleged American airstrike on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, southern Iran. Tehran has issued a fresh warning to Washington, demanding an end to what it describes as aerial provocations and oil smuggling activities in the Strait of Hormuz. The development is significant as Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, making it a strategically important location for American military operations across the Gulf.

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.