Baghdad Airport Base, Ali Al Salem Air Base and Iranian Cities Affected; Cluster munitions injure people in Israeli cities
An Iranian man examines the debris of buildings destroyed following a strike 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 strikes against Iran on February 28.
As the conflict enters its third week, there are reports 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 resulted in no commitments. Amid reported strikes in Baghdad, Kuwait, Tel Aviv and Beirut, global markets, particularly oil, remained tense as the war showed no signs of abating.
In Iraq, multiple strikes targeted the Victory military base, located in the Baghdad airport complex, which also houses a US diplomatic facility. “Nine attacks with drones and rockets 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 American and Italian forces, was hit by a drone on Sunday morning. Italian military officials confirmed that the drone struck a shelter containing a remotely piloted aircraft, destroying the asset but causing no injuries.
Italian defense chief Gen. Luciano Portolano described the aircraft as “a critical asset for operational activities,” noting that personnel remained safe and operational capabilities were intact. Earlier in the week, another Italian base in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, was struck, prompting Rome to temporarily reduce its personnel there.
The UAE has also felt the impact of the Iranian strikes. In Fujairah, fires started 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 then brought under control.
Tehran has warned civilians to avoid industrial sites and demanded that US-linked industries in the region be relocated, citing them as potential targets in retaliation for US-Israeli attacks on Iranian soil.
In Israel, repeated Iranian missile strikes have injured at least eight people. Some missiles contained cluster munitions, dispersing submunitions across multiple sites. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it targeted Lahav 433, a police unit, and the Gilat Defense satellite communications center. Videos and eyewitness accounts showed damage across central Israel and the Tel Aviv area, including residential buildings and streets.
As attacks intensify, Israel faces a critical shortage of missile interceptors. U.S. officials cited by Semafor reported that Israel had informed Washington that its stockpile of ballistic missile interceptors was critically low, heightening concerns about the country’s defensive capabilities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared in a social media video, joking about rumors of his death and saying Israeli forces were striking Iran and Lebanon in retaliation.
Nighttime Israeli airstrikes in Sidon and Al-Qatrani in Lebanon killed at least four civilians. Lebanese authorities report more than 850 deaths and more than 2,100 injured since the start of the conflict, including 66 women, 107 children and 32 health workers.
Hezbollah, meanwhile, claimed responsibility for targeting 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 hit, with neighboring buildings heavily damaged and some losing their exterior 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, with Europe and the Americas to follow at the end of March.
The statement aims to mitigate the price surge caused by production disruptions and threats to shipping lanes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil normally passes. Tehran declared the strait closed to the United States and its allies.
President Trump called on allied countries, including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain, to deploy warships to protect oil tanker traffic crossing the strait. As of Sunday, no commitment had been confirmed.
So far, 13 US service members have died, including six in a plane crash in Iraq. Israeli and US strikes continue against Iranian military sites, while Iranian-backed groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas have stepped up attacks in retaliation.
The war also intensified domestic political debate in the United States. President Trump faces criticism from both opposition parties and some of his own supporters for his handling of the conflict, rising gas prices and civilian casualties.
Democratic strategists say the administration’s lack of a clear goal has made the public increasingly skeptical. Additionally, the easing of sanctions on Russian oil shipments to counter energy shortages has drawn criticism from European allies.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran was not interested in negotiations with the United States, pushing back against Trump’s remarks that Iran was seeking a deal to end the war. Araghchi indicated that Iran would not continue negotiations under the current circumstances.
Meanwhile, Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian politician, claimed, in a posting on the social media platform
The conflict shows no signs of abating, with rising casualties in several countries, disrupted global oil supplies and civilian populations facing growing threats. Governments and international agencies remain on alert as humanitarian and strategic challenges continue to intensify.
