Iran Launches ‘Massive’ Drone Strikes on Israel, US Bases

Iran’s army and Revolutionary Guards announced on Saturday that their forces had launched a “massive wave of drone attacks” targeting Israel and US military bases in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait, as the regional conflict escalates into its second week. According to the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), the Iranian Navy carried out the strikes against what Tehran described as “American bases and occupied territories.” The operation reportedly targeted strategic locations including Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, a US base in Kuwait, and a strategic facility in Israel. (tbsnews.net)

Later, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed additional strikes on Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE. The Guard alleged that the attacks damaged air warfare centres, satellite communication systems, early warning radars, and fire-control radars used by US forces, according to Tasnim News Agency. (today.lorientlejour.com)

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The current surge in attacks comes after US and Israeli airstrikes inside Iran on February 28, which Tehran claims killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a broader conflict. Since then, Iran has retaliated with multiple drone and missile attacks against Israel and US interests in the region. (reuters.com)

The hostilities have spread across the Gulf, with missiles and drones intercepted over the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar, forcing governments to issue civil defence alerts and suspend some flights. (gulfnews.com)

Meanwhile, Israel has conducted pre-emptive air raids inside Iran, reportedly deploying dozens of fighter jets to target Iranian military infrastructure, escalating the tit-for-tat confrontations. (turkiyetoday.com)

Analysts warn that the escalation could destabilise the Middle East further, disrupt oil supplies, and trigger international military responses. The attacks highlight the increasing risks for US forces and allied personnel stationed across the Gulf, as well as potential threats to civilian infrastructure in the region.

Iran Launches ‘Massive’ Drone Strikes on Israel, US Bases

Iran War: US Authorizes $151.8 Million Bombs Sale to Israel

The United States State Department has approved a $151.8 million emergency arms sale to Israel, authorising the transfer of thousands of bombs and critical support services as the Middle East war involving Israel, the United States, and Iran intensifies. The deal, announced on Friday, reflects Washington’s urgent support for Israel’s defence capabilities amid the ongoing regional crisis.

Under the agreement, Israel will receive 12,000 BLU‑110A/B general-purpose bombs, each weighing approximately 1,000 pounds (470 kilograms), along with US government and contractor technical, logistics, and engineering support. The arms package is designed to boost Israel’s ability to counter current and future threats, strengthen homeland defence, and serve as a deterrent against regional adversaries, the State Department said.

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The emergency designation was invoked under the Arms Export Control Act, allowing the sale to bypass the usual congressional review process. Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that “an emergency exists that requires the immediate transfer of these defence articles in the national security interests of the United States.” Critics have warned that bypassing Congress for a weapons sale of this scale raises concerns about oversight and accountability, given the conflict’s humanitarian and geopolitical implications.

The arms sale comes as hostilities in the Middle East continue to escalate following recent US‑Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, which triggered retaliatory attacks by Iranian‑backed forces, including missile and drone strikes on Israel and US facilities across the Gulf region. Observers say the weapons transfer signals unwavering US support for Israel amid growing regional instability.

The emergency sale also underscores the strategic US‑Israel defence partnership, which has long been central to Washington’s Middle East policy. The contract will be executed with existing stockpiles and contracted suppliers, ensuring Israel can rapidly deploy the munitions in the ongoing conflict. Human rights groups and some lawmakers have criticised the sale, warning that further militarisation could exacerbate civilian casualties and prolong the conflict.

Iran War: US Authorizes $151.8 Million Bombs Sale to Israel

Ghanaian UN Peacekeepers Hit by Missile Attack in Lebanon as Iran‑Linked War Escalates

The headquarters of Ghana’s United Nations peacekeeping battalion in southern Lebanon came under a missile attack on Friday, critically wounding two Ghanaian soldiers and underscoring the growing dangers facing peacekeepers in the escalating Middle East conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran‑aligned forces.

In an official statement, the Ghana Armed Forces said the attack occurred at the battalion’s base in southern Lebanon, where Ghanaian troops are deployed as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The missile strike also left a third peacekeeper psychologically traumatised, and destroyed the Officers’ Mess facility, which was completely burned down in the blast.

The Ghana military did not identify the group responsible for launching the missiles. However, it noted that Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has lodged a formal protest with the United Nations Headquarters in New York, urging all parties to respect international obligations to protect UN peacekeepers and civilians in conflict zones.

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The attack comes amid a dramatic escalation in violence after Hezbollah launched rockets toward Israel, drawing Lebanon directly into the wider war between Israel/United States and Iran. Following the rocket attacks, Israel intensified operations against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, leading to heavy exchanges of fire and multiple missile strikes across border communities.

UNIFIL, established in 1978 to monitor ceasefires along the Lebanon–Israel border and stabilise the area, includes troops from several countries, with the Ghanaian battalion among the key contingents. The mission has increasingly come under strain as hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah exact heavier tolls on local communities and UN positions alike.

According to military officials, the two wounded Ghanaian soldiers were stabilised and receiving medical care inside the UN peacekeeping base. Plans are underway to transfer them to a UNIFIL referral hospital outside the conflict zone for further treatment. The traumatized soldier was also receiving support from mission medical teams.

Lebanese media and UN sources reported that the missile attack occurred amid intense clashes between Israeli forces and Iranian‑aligned Hezbollah fighters, who continue to exchange rocket and artillery fire. While UNIFIL has not officially confirmed responsibility for the attack by any particular group, the volatile security situation in southern Lebanon has repeatedly placed peacekeepers at risk of stray rockets and deliberate targeting.

In response to the incident, UNIFIL leadership reiterated its commitment to safeguarding peacekeepers and civilians in the region, calling on all parties to respect UN mandates and international law. The United Nations urged the protection of peacekeeping personnel and condemned any attacks on UN positions as threats to the broader mission of maintaining stability.

The escalation has also resulted in multiple civilian casualties and infrastructure damage across border towns on both sides of the Israel–Lebanon frontier, with Lebanese residents reporting missile impacts in residential areas and Israeli communities facing ongoing rocket barrages since the conflict’s expansion.

The missile strike on Ghanaian troops marks one of the most serious attacks on UN peacekeepers in recent weeks, highlighting fears that the Middle East war could draw wider international involvement and increase risks for non‑combatant forces operating under the UN banner.

Ghanaian UN Peacekeepers Hit by Missile Attack in Lebanon as Iran‑Linked War Escalates