Middle East Crisis: Middle East crisis Day 15: Iran hits US embassy in Baghdad, UAE oil hub struck as war widens across Gulf
Smoke rises from the US embassy building in Baghdad, Iraq (Picture credit: AP)
The US-Israel war on Iran entered its 15th day on Saturday with the conflict spilling further across the Gulf, as Iran struck the US embassy compound in Baghdad, targeted a major oil storage hub in the UAE, and intensified drone and missile attacks on regional states, while Israel carried out fresh strikes in Lebanon and Iraq.In Dubai, debris from a missile intercepted by the UAE’s air defence systems hit the façade of a building in central Dubai on Saturday, marking the second such incident in as many days.
The Dubai Media Office said the incident was “fully contained”, with no fire and no injuries reported.In one of the most dramatic escalations of the day, a missile or drone hit the US embassy complex in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, with smoke seen rising from the site. As per news agency AP, a missile hit the helipad inside the compound. There was no immediate comment from the US embassy.The embassy strike came after an earlier airstrike hit a house in Baghdad’s Karrada district, killing at least one person and wounding two others. The report said the attack appeared to target Iran-backed armed group figures.As per news agency AFP, strikes on Kataeb Hezbollah killed two members, including a “key figure”.
UAE oil hub hit, debris falls in Dubai
In the UAE, smoke was seen rising from the direction of Fujairah, home to a major port and oil export terminal, in the latest strike on Gulf petroleum infrastructure. A fire broke out near Fujairah port after a drone interception, though no casualties were reported.The UAE defence ministry said nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones were fired at the country on Saturday. This came as debris from another successfully intercepted missile struck a building in central Dubai on Saturday, a day after similar debris hit a building in Dubai’s financial district. Two witnesses cited by AFP said they saw damage at the Dubai International Financial Centre after hearing “loud bangs” on Friday.Iran warned residents to evacuate UAE port areas, saying ports, docks and US military hideouts in the Emirates were now “legitimate targets”.UAE has intercepted more than 1,500 Iranian drones and nearly 300 missiles since the war began on February 28, making it the most heavily targeted Gulf state in the conflict. Abu Dhabi Police detained 45 people, including foreigners, over filming the attacks and allegedly “spreading misinformation” online, after residents received text alerts warning against sharing sensitive visuals or unverified content.
Israel presses Lebanon, medics killed
Israel continued its Lebanon offensive, with Lebanon’s health ministry saying an overnight strike on a healthcare centre in Burj Qalawiya killed 12 doctors, nurses and paramedics, as per AFP. The broader toll among paramedics since the latest round of fighting began on March 2 has risen to 26 dead and 51 wounded.An Israeli strike hit an apartment building in a northern suburb of Beirut, while another strike in southern Lebanon’s Sidon killed four people.
Kharg strike fallout, wider war pressure
Earlier, US forces struck military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main crude export hub. Trump said the US had “obliterated” military targets but deliberately spared oil infrastructure, while warning he could revisit that if Iran interferes with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Despite the strikes, Iranian officials said oil operations on Kharg were continuing normally and no oil facilities were damaged, reported AP.The regional fallout continued to spread, with Saudi Arabia intercepting six drones, Qatar intercepting a missile, and Bahrain reporting fresh drone and missile attacks.The 15th day’s developments depict how the conflict is no longer confined to Iran and Israel, but is now directly hitting diplomatic sites, oil infrastructure and urban centres across the wider Gulf.
