Arabic version: إيران تطلق ضربات بطائرات مسيرة تستهدف الأصول الأمريكية في دول الخليج
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Wednesday that it has fired 230 drones at several facilities hosting US troops in the Middle East, including a base in Erbil in northern Iraq and military bases in Kuwait. The drone strikes are described as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict following coordinated attacks by Israel and the United States that began over the weekend.
According to Al Jazeera, the attacks targeted key sites, such as the Erbil international airport in northern Iraq and the Ali Al Salem Air Base and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The IRGC characterized these operations as “first powerful steps” in their military strategy in the ongoing war.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Health reported a tragic incident where an 11-year-old girl was killed by falling shrapnel from the drone strikes. Resuscitation efforts were made during her transport to the hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival at Al-Amiri Hospital.
In Iraq, drone attacks were also reported against a US embassy logistical support facility near Baghdad international airport. Security sources indicated that two drones targeted a US military base and a hotel in Erbil. Additionally, a building in Sulaimaniyah was struck by a drone, with footage showing flames rising from the scene.
Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry confirmed it intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Eastern Province, though details regarding its origin or impact were not disclosed. Furthermore, drone strikes were reported in the United Arab Emirates, affecting the US consulate in Dubai and a port in Fujairah. The US State Department has since authorized the evacuation of nonemergency personnel from its diplomatic missions in the region.
Despite the intensity of these attacks, reports indicate a decrease in their volume and frequency. However, experts warn that even a low level of drone activity poses significant risks, potentially leading to airspace closures and disruptions for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries involved in the conflict.
