Iran Targets Busiest International Airport as UN Demands Halt to Escalating Attacks on Gulf Neighbors

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — On Wednesday, Iran launched attacks on the world’s busiest international airport and commercial vessels amid ongoing U.S. and Israeli military strikes in Tehran. The United Nations Security Council has called for an immediate cessation of Iran’s aggressive actions against its Gulf neighbors, which pose a significant threat to global oil supplies.

The recent assaults signify a marked escalation in Iran’s strategy to inflict economic distress on the United States and Israel, aiming to compel them to end the conflict that has persisted for 12 days. Despite these efforts, there are no indications that hostilities are diminishing.

Iranian Attack Sparks Fire in Bahrain

On Thursday, an Iranian strike ignited a substantial fire on Bahrain’s Muharraq Island, which is home to the kingdom’s international airport. Authorities advised residents to remain indoors and close windows to mitigate exposure to smoke. The airport’s vicinity contains jet fuel tanks, critical for both aviation and the local oil industry.

Additionally, an attack on Iraq’s Basra port resulted in at least one fatality and forced the suspension of operations at the nation’s oil terminals. Farhan al-Fartousi, the director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, stated that the assault targeted a vessel in a ship-to-ship transfer area 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 incurred costs of approximately $11.3 billion for the United States. This figure was shared with Congress during a recent briefing. Military expenditures on munitions alone reached $5 billion during the initial weekend of the war.

Both sides appear entrenched, each hoping to outlast the other as the conflict disrupts trade routes, constricts fuel and fertilizer supplies from the Gulf, and jeopardizes air traffic in one of the world’s most heavily trafficked regions.

Iran has targeted oil fields and refineries in Gulf Arab nations, effectively halting cargo traffic through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of globally traded oil passes.

In response to the escalating crisis, the International Energy Agency has agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil, marking the largest emergency oil reserve release in its history. The United States plans to release 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve next week to alleviate soaring prices.

UN Security Council’s Resolution Against Iran

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.

Recent incidents include two Iranian drones striking near Dubai International Airport, injuring four individuals, although flight operations continued. 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, crews worked to control a fire at fuel storage tanks, according to the Oman News Agency. Bahrain’s U.N. ambassador, Jamal Alrowaiei, emphasized that the international community firmly rejects Iranian attacks on sovereign nations, which threaten regional stability and global trade.

The resolution passed with a 13-0 vote, highlighting Iran’s increasingly isolated position as it retaliates against Israeli and U.S. strikes. Notably, China and Russia, both allies of Iran, abstained from the vote. Their U.N. representatives criticized the resolution for failing to acknowledge the strikes against Tehran that initiated the conflict.

Ongoing Attacks and Regional Tensions

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. Reports indicate that 25 crew members were rescued, though the status of others remains unclear.

In Israel, loud explosions were reported in Jerusalem and other areas shortly after midnight on Thursday. The Israeli military confirmed it was conducting a “wide-scale wave of strikes” in Tehran in response to ongoing hostilities.

The situation in Lebanon has also deteriorated, with Israeli strikes targeting locations associated with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. An Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle in Ramlet al-Bayda, a popular tourist area in Beirut, resulting in seven fatalities and 21 injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Blasts were reported in Beirut’s southern suburbs, igniting fires and generating smoke. The Israeli military stated these strikes were a response to Hezbollah’s simultaneous rocket fire across northern Israel, marking some of the most intense fighting since the conflict began.

As of Wednesday, at least 634 people have been killed in Lebanon since the latest round of fighting commenced. The U.N. refugee agency reported that over 759,000 individuals have been internally displaced in Lebanon. Iranian authorities claim that more than 1,300 people have died in Iran, while Israel has reported 12 fatalities. The U.S. military has confirmed the loss of seven soldiers, with eight others sustaining serious injuries.

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Published on 2026-03-11 19:31:00 • By Editorial Desk