Iran Targets Busiest International Airport as UN Demands Halt to Gulf Attacks
DUBAI – Iran launched attacks on Wednesday against the world’s busiest international airport and commercial vessels, coinciding with U.S. and Israeli military strikes in Tehran. The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate cessation of Iran’s assaults on Gulf nations, which pose a significant threat to global oil supplies.
Escalation of Attacks
The recent assaults signify a marked escalation in Iran’s strategy to inflict economic hardship globally, aiming to compel the United States and Israel to withdraw from the ongoing conflict that began 12 days ago. Despite the intensifying hostilities, there are no indications that the situation is easing.
On Thursday, an Iranian strike ignited a significant fire on Bahrain’s Muharraq Island, which houses the kingdom’s international airport. Local authorities advised residents to remain indoors and close windows to mitigate smoke inhalation. The airport is equipped with jet fuel tanks, and additional tanks in the vicinity support the nation’s oil sector.
In a separate incident, an attack on Iraq’s Basra port resulted in at least one fatality and led to the suspension of operations at all oil terminals in the country. Farhan al-Fartousi, director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, confirmed that the assault targeted a vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer zone at the Persian Gulf port. While Iraq’s commercial ports remain operational, the oil terminals have been closed, as reported by the state-run Iraqi News Agency.
Financial Impact of the Conflict
The Pentagon has estimated that the first week of conflict with Iran has cost the United States approximately $11.3 billion. This figure was disclosed to Congress during a recent briefing, with military expenditures on munitions alone reaching $5 billion during the initial weekend of hostilities.
Both Iran and its adversaries have entrenched their positions, each side hoping to outlast the other as the conflict disrupts trade routes, constrains fuel and fertilizer supplies from the Gulf, and jeopardizes air traffic in one of the world’s busiest regions.
Iran has targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab states, effectively halting cargo traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which is responsible for a fifth of all traded oil.
Global Response to the Crisis
In response to the escalating conflict, the International Energy Agency has agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil, marking the largest emergency oil reserve release in its history. The U.S. plans to release 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve next week to mitigate rising prices.
The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to adopt a resolution demanding an end to Iran’s “egregious attacks” on its Gulf neighbors.
Among the latest incidents, two Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport, injuring four individuals, although flight operations continued, according to the Dubai Media Office. Firefighters also extinguished a fire at a luxury apartment tower in Dubai Creek Harbor following an Iranian drone strike.
At Oman’s Port of Salalah, emergency crews battled a fire at fuel storage tanks, as reported by the Oman News Agency.
International Condemnation
Bahrain’s U.N. ambassador, Jamal Alrowaiei, stated that the international community is united in its rejection of Iranian attacks against sovereign nations, emphasizing the threat to regional stability and global trade.
The unanimous 13-0 vote in the U.N. reflects Iran’s increasingly isolated position as it retaliates against Israeli and U.S. strikes. Notably, China and Russia, allies of Iran, abstained from the vote, with their U.N. representatives criticizing the resolution for failing to acknowledge the initial strikes against Tehran that sparked the conflict.
Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, expressed concern that the resolution might imply that Iran acted unprovoked against Arab states. Iranian U.N. Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani contended that the resolution overlooks the underlying causes of the current crisis.
Continued Attacks in the Region
Further attacks have been reported across Gulf nations. Drones were launched toward the cities of Irbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Additionally, an oil vessel flying the Australian flag was struck near Khor Al-Zubair Port, according to two Iraqi navy officials who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Reports indicate that 25 crew members were rescued from the vessel, though it remains unclear if others are missing.
Ongoing Violence in Israel and Lebanon
On Thursday, sirens sounded and explosions were reported in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel. The Israeli military announced a new wave of extensive strikes in Tehran.
The conflict’s repercussions have extended throughout the Middle East, with Israel targeting sites associated with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. An Israeli strike in Ramlet al-Bayda, a coastal area of Beirut, resulted in seven fatalities and 21 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. The Israeli military stated it was unaware of any strike in that area.
Explosions also rocked Beirut’s southern suburbs, igniting fires and generating smoke. The Israeli military indicated that these strikes were in retaliation for Hezbollah’s simultaneous rocket fire across northern Israel, marking some of the most intense fighting since the conflict’s inception.
At least 634 individuals have died in Lebanon since the latest hostilities began, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry. The U.N. refugee agency has indicated that over 759,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon.
Iranian officials report more than 1,300 fatalities in their country, while Israel has confirmed 12 deaths. The U.S. has lost seven soldiers, with eight others sustaining serious injuries.
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Published on 2026-03-11 09:01:00 • By Editorial Desk
