Drones carrying explosives targeted a military base hosting U.S. forces in northern Iraq on Friday, according to Apnews. The attack occurred hours after the American military confirmed it concluded its 13th consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, as reported by The Hill.
Drone Attacks Target US Base in Irbil Following American Airstrikes
Kurdish security officials stated that coalition forces successfully shot down five explosive-laden drones over Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, where troops are stationed at the city’s international airport. An Associated Press journalist on the scene reported hearing at least seven explosions and observing at least four plumes of black smoke rising near or inside the base. Officials confirmed that the incident caused no injuries or damage. The state-run Iraqi News Agency reported, citing the facility’s director, that flights continued as normal at the airport. U.S. military officials in Iraq did not respond to a request for comment regarding the incident.
U.S. Central Command Targets Iranian Military Sites
The drone attack in Iraq coincided with a broad escalation in regional fighting driven by an ongoing conflict over the Strait of Hormuz. According to chicagotribune.com, U.S. Central Command stated that the latest American bombardment was designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters as the U.S. pushes to regain control over the strait.
Iranian semiofficial news outlets Fars and ISNA reported that U.S. strikes hit a Revolutionary Guard naval base in northern Iran. Additional overnight blasts were reported on Qeshm Island—a base for naval assets including drone boats used to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz—as well as in Isfahan province, home to a major Iranian air base and a nuclear site. Further strikes reportedly hit southwest Khuzestan province and southern Fars province.
Regional Spillovers and Red Sea Shipping Threats
The conflict expanded to other parts of the region on Friday. Warning sirens rang out in Bahrain, which hosts the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet. The Bahraini Interior Ministry confirmed the sirens on the social platform X, while the Bahrain Defense Force stated that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a number of Iranian aerial aggressions with no immediate reports of damage. Additionally, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards stated that they targeted a data centre in Bahrain belonging to U.S. tech giant Amazon, according to state media cited by scmp.com. Jordan’s armed forces also reported downing seven Iranian missiles and six drones on Friday.
Adding pressure to energy transit routes, Iran-backed Houthi rebels targeted two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, making good on a threat to cut off alternative oil routes. President Trump warned on Thursday that the Houthis would face major military punishment if attacks on commercial vessels continue, and threatened to use frozen Iranian assets held by the U.S. to pay for shipping damages. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the asset confiscation suggestion in a post on X.
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