Baghdad airport base, Ali Al Salem air base and Iranian cities are affected; Cluster munitions cause injuries in Israeli cities
An Iranian looks at the rubble of buildings destroyed after an attack on Tehran. Photo: AFP
BAGHDAD/DUBAI:
Iranian drone and missile attacks targeted several sites in the Gulf region on Sunday, marking the latest escalation since the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks against Iran on February 28.
As the conflict entered its third week, reports emerged of a critical shortage of missile interceptors in Israel, while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.
US President Donald Trump’s call for countries to send warships to secure the vital waterway produced no commitments. Amid reported attacks from Baghdad to Kuwait, Tel Aviv and Beirut, global markets, particularly oil, remained in suspense as the war showed no signs of abating.
In Iraq, multiple attacks targeted the Victory military base within the Baghdad airport complex, which also houses a US diplomatic facility. “Nine drone and rocket attacks targeted the base,” a security official said, with explosions audible throughout the capital. At least three drones were shot down by Iraqi air defenses, the official added.
In Kuwait, the Ali Al Salem air base, which hosts US and Italian forces, was attacked by a drone on Sunday morning. Italian military officials confirmed that the drone hit a shelter containing a remotely piloted aircraft, destroying the asset but causing no injuries.
Italy’s defense chief, Gen. Luciano Portolano, described the aircraft as “an essential asset for operational activities,” noting that personnel remained safe and operational capabilities intact. Earlier in the week, another Italian base in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, had been attacked, prompting Rome to temporarily reduce its staff there.
The United Arab Emirates also felt the impact of the Iranian attacks. In Fujairah, fire caused by intercepted drone debris at commercial facilities continued, while another fire broke out in Sharjah due to an accidental leak in an oil tank. The fire was later controlled.
Tehran has warned civilians to avoid industrial sites and demanded that US-linked industries in the region relocate, citing them as potential targets in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks on Iranian soil.
In Israel, repeated Iranian missile attacks left at least eight people injured. Some missiles contained cluster munitions, which dispersed submunitions over multiple sites. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard reported that it had attacked Lahav 433, a police unit and Gilat Defense’s satellite communications center. Videos and eyewitness reports showed damage in central Israel and the Tel Aviv area, including residential buildings and streets.
Amid an escalation of attacks, Israel faces a critical shortage of missile interceptors. US officials cited by Semafor reported that Israel informed Washington that its stock of ballistic missile interceptors was critically low, raising concerns about the country’s defensive capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in a video on social media, joking about rumors of his death and claiming that Israeli forces were attacking Iran and Lebanon in retaliation.
Overnight Israeli airstrikes in Sidon and Al-Qatrani in Lebanon killed at least four civilians. Lebanese authorities report more than 850 dead and more than 2,100 injured since the conflict began, including 66 women, 107 children and 32 health workers.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed responsibility for attacking Israel’s Palmachim air base with an advanced missile, while Israeli retaliatory strikes in southern Lebanon killed Hamas official Wissam Taha.
In Iran, images show a police station under attack, with nearby buildings severely damaged and some losing their outer walls. Residents described the attacks as sudden and devastating. At least 1,300 people have been killed since February 28, including 223 women and 202 children.
Global energy markets remain under pressure. The International Energy Agency announced the immediate release of strategic oil reserves in Asia and Oceania, to be followed by Europe and America at the end of March.
The statement aims to mitigate price increases caused by production disruptions and threats to shipping routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes. Tehran has declared the strait closed to the United States and its allies.
President Trump called on allied nations, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain, to deploy warships to protect tanker traffic through the strait. As of Sunday, no commitments had been confirmed.
So far, 13 U.S. service members have died, including six in a plane crash in Iraq. Israeli and US attacks on Iranian military sites continue, while Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas have stepped up retaliatory attacks.
The war has also intensified domestic political debate in the United States. President Trump faces criticism from both opposition parties and some of his own supporters over his handling of the conflict, rising gas prices and civilian casualties.
Democratic strategists say the administration’s lack of a clear endgame has left the public increasingly skeptical. Additionally, easing sanctions on Russian oil shipments to counter energy shortages has drawn criticism from European allies.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was not interested in negotiating with the United States, rejecting Trump’s comments that Iran was seeking a deal to end the war. Araghchi indicated that Iran would not engage in talks under the current circumstances.
Meanwhile, top Iranian politician Ali Larijani, while writing on the social media platform
The conflict shows no signs of abating: casualties are rising in several countries, global oil supplies are disrupted, and civilian populations face increasing threats. Governments and international agencies remain on high alert as humanitarian and strategic risks continue to rise.
