Tehran (TDI): Iran’s army said on Thursday that it carried out a drone strike targeting a US military site in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Erbil, further intensifying tensions across the Middle East.
In a statement broadcast by Iranian state television, the military said attack drones from its ground forces struck what it described as the “headquarters of American aggressor forces” in Erbil. No immediate details about damage or casualties were available.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan warned it was preparing response measures after Iranian drones reportedly crossed into its territory and injured civilians in the Nakhchivan exclave. According to Azerbaijani officials, two drones struck areas near Nakhchivan International Airport and a nearby village, wounding four people. Authorities said the injured were taken to hospital and were in stable condition.
Baku summoned Iran’s ambassador and lodged a formal protest, calling the incident a violation of international norms. Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said the country reserved the right to take appropriate action to protect its sovereignty. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi denied that Tehran had deliberately targeted Nakhchivan.
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Elsewhere in the region, Gulf states reported a series of drone and missile incidents. The United Arab Emirates said one missile and six drones landed inside the country, while its air defences intercepted several ballistic missiles and more than a hundred drones.
Explosions were also heard over Qatar’s capital Doha, where AFP journalists reported seeing black smoke rising on the horizon. The blasts followed the evacuation of residents near the US embassy earlier in the day. Bahrain’s capital Manama also reported explosions, while Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted cruise missiles and drones near the city of Al-Kharj.
In another incident, a tanker in waters off Kuwait was struck by a large explosion, causing an oil spill, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
Russia also weighed in on the escalating crisis, accusing the United States and Israel of attempting to widen the conflict by provoking Iranian retaliation against targets across the region. Moscow said such actions risk drawing Arab states into a broader war.
Iran, however, claimed that some attacks on Gulf energy facilities were carried out by Israel in an attempt to expand the conflict and strain relations between regional countries.
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Meanwhile, Israel said its air defence systems were intercepting a fresh wave of missiles launched from Iran, marking the sixth day of intense hostilities between the two sides.
The rapidly widening conflict has raised concerns about further regional spillover, with several countries reporting drone strikes, missile interceptions, and heightened military alerts across the Middle East.
