Drones Target Northern Iraqi City Where U.S. Forces Are Based As U.S.-Iran Fighting Escalates

IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — Explosive-carrying drones targeted a city in northern Iraq where U.S. forces are stationed and sirens blaring in Bahrain on Friday, hours after the American military said it had ended the offensive. 13th night of attacks against Iran.

Conflict reignited Last week, while the USA was beating Iran, Tehran was also attacking ships in the region. Strait of Hormuz and targeted US assets and allies in the region.

The strait, a crucial transit point for the world’s energy supplies, has been at the center of recent conflicts as Iranian attacks have effectively blocked the waterway, sending fuel prices soaring around the world and causing widespread economic turmoil. Iran-allied Houthi rebels this week stepped up further pressure by targeting two Saudi tankers in the Red Sea, making good on their threat to cut off an alternative route for the region’s oil.

Despite the war’s unpopularity and the widespread damage it has inflicted on Iran and the global economy, there is no clear exit in the latest round of fighting. Iran’s Ministry of Health said 55 people were killed and more than 600 people were injured in attacks in recent weeks.

USA and Israel Attacked Iran on February 28 and they proposed varying goals for the war, including overthrowing Tehran’s government and eliminating its nuclear program. But the conflict has apparently escalated into a struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran hopes to win concessions by hurting the global economy and the United States is trying to limit that damage.

US-led forces intercepted and shot down five explosives-laden UAVs over Erbil on Friday morning, according to security officials in northern Iraq. “Thankfully, there was no loss of life or damage in the incident,” they said.

An Associated Press reporter heard at least seven explosions in the city, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, and saw at least four plumes of black smoke rising from areas near or inside a base at the city’s airport that hosts U.S. forces. Flights were continuing normally at the airport, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported, citing the facility’s manager.

U.S. military officials in Iraq did not respond to a request for comment.

In recent years, the United States has maintained approximately 2,500 troops in Iraq to conduct training and operations against the Islamic State group alongside the Iraqi army. Most of these withdrew, but a small contingent of military advisors and others remained; Most of them moved to Erbil.

According to the statement read on state television, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard called on people in neighboring countries to stay away from bases where American troops are located, and asked people to report where they are stationed.

While the USA was bombing Iran, Tehran targeted many countries hosting American troops in the region.

Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s 5th fleet, said on Friday it had intercepted and shot down Iranian airstrikes. It was not stated whether there was any loss of life or damage.

The United States struck a naval base belonging to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in northern Iran overnight, semi-official news outlets Fars and ISNA reported on Friday morning. Explosions from US bombing overnight were also reported on Qeshm Island, a base for Iran’s naval forces, including drone boats, which it can use to attack ships in the area. Strait of Hormuzas well as in Isfahan province, home to a major Iranian air base and one of Iran’s nuclear facilities. More attacks were reported in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province and southern Fars province.

U.S. Central Command said the latest barrage was designed to “further weaken Iran’s ability to threaten civilian sailors and commercial vessels transiting regional waters” as Americans push to regain control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes in peacetime.

Iran’s ability to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz and thereby cause economic chaos far beyond the Middle East gives it a tremendous advantage in any negotiations. His Houthi allies They only increased that influence on Thursday when they targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea; Another vital route for Middle East oil.

Brent crude oil, international standard, exceeded $100 per barrel although it started to decline following the attacks.

The attacks worked Threat from the Houthis to close Bab el-Mandeb Strait to Saudi-related shipping. The strait at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and around 12% of world trade passes through it, including a quarter of global container traffic.

The transit has become more important than ever for Saudi Arabia, which diverts millions of barrels of oil a day to the Red Sea port of Yanbu as a way to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

US President Donald Trump He threatened “major military punishment” against the Houthis if attacks on ships continue.

Trump also warned Iran about its attacks on ships and said on social media Thursday that sanctioned Iranian funds held by the United States would be used to repair war-damaged boats.

“Please allow this declaration to represent that, from this point forward, until further notice, any damage to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto will be paid in Iranian Currency in the possession and control of the United States,” Trump said.

It was unclear what legal mechanisms Trump would use to access and spend the funds.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the proposal, writing to X: “No one’s assets are safe when governments normalize confiscations. The resulting chaos will not be pleasant or peaceful.”

The International Maritime Organization says at least 6,000 sailors are stranded on nearly 400 ships around the Strait of Hormuz.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday called for “immediate action” to help them. His office said seafarers had been exposed to conflict and some had been abandoned by their shipowners, “leaving them to fend for themselves without food, water, fuel, medical care, electricity or the means to communicate with their families.”

Iran says it has the right to direct traffic and potentially charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz, which was open to everyone free of charge before the war. It attacked ships using a route through the strait that is controlled by US forces and is intended to be out of Tehran’s control.

Frankel reported from Jerusalem. Associated Press writers Bassem Mroue in Beirut and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed.