Retired US General Mark Kimmitt has cautioned that the resurgence of hostilities between the United States and Iran in the strategic Strait of Hormuz risks escalating into a broader regional conflict.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Kimmitt highlighted that the renewed exchanges of fire threaten to undo any progress made toward de-escalation. The warning comes as Iran launched attacks on US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, and the US military confirmed its latest wave of strikes against Iranian targets had concluded.
"What we are seeing is a return to the brink," Kimmitt said. "Each side is testing the other's limits, and without immediate restraint, the entire region could be drawn into a war no one wants."
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, has been a flashpoint in US-Iran tensions for years. Recent clashes mark a significant setback after a brief period of relative calm following a June memorandum.
Kimmitt's analysis underscores the fragility of the situation, where a single miscalculation could ignite a conflict with far-reaching consequences for the Middle East and beyond.