Persian Gulf in Flames: Iran Shells Gulf Countries with Missiles and Drones, Shipping Nearly Halted

The Gulf states are increasingly being drawn into the conflict with Iran. The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain are facing almost daily shelling by Iranian missiles and drones. According to the UAE government, the country has intercepted 372 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,826 unmanned aircraft since the war began on February 28. The attacks have claimed 25 victims in the Gulf countries, including two teenagers in the UAE, and left 169 wounded. NBC News ↗

Iran is targeting primarily American military bases in the region. Tehran confirmed drone attacks on Ali Al Salem air base in Kuwait, Prince Sultan base in Saudi Arabia, and Isa base in Bahrain. The governments of these countries have not yet confirmed the extent of the damage, but Saudi Arabia intercepted at least six missiles on Friday alone. Thirteen American soldiers have died in combat in the conflict, and two more outside combat operations. NBC News ↗

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on Thursday that attacks on Iran would escalate and expand to additional targets, since Tehran had ignored warnings and continues shelling Israel's civilian population. Israel also stated that it had eliminated the commander of the naval forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Alireza Tangsiri, who allegedly directed the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. NBC News ↗

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's maritime oil trade flows, has become the main instrument of Iranian resistance. The Revolutionary Guards are stopping ships from countries allied with the US and introducing a system that analysts call the Tehran toll booth — tankers must pay up to two million dollars to pass through the strait. According to analysts' estimates, daily traffic has fallen from 110 ships to fewer than ten, and the flow of oil has collapsed from 20 million barrels per day to approximately one million. Brent crude has surpassed the threshold of 110 dollars per barrel. This is the largest disruption of global energy trade in recent decades. NBC News ↗

However, the strait is not just an oil artery. More than 30 percent of the world's ammonia trade passes through it, along with nearly 50 percent of the urea needed for fertilizer production and 50 percent of the world's sulfur. Saudi Arabia imports more than 80 percent of its food, and Qatar 85 percent. According to experts, the disruption of supplies in March will directly translate into lower harvests in September in the Northern Hemisphere. Approximately 20,000 sailors are trapped in the Persian Gulf aboard hundreds of ships. Al Jazeera ↗

Ukraine announced a defense agreement with Saudi Arabia on Friday, building on Ukrainian expertise in the field of drones. President Zelensky stated that the agreement lays the groundwork for future treaties, technological cooperation, and investment. Ukraine has become one of the world's leaders in drone technology thanks to its experience in the war with Russia, during which it faced more than 19,000 Russian drones this winter alone. Zelensky indicated that Ukraine is helping five Middle Eastern countries against Iranian drone attacks. Al Jazeera ↗

Meanwhile, Russia is providing Iran with intelligence support through the Liana satellite system, which was originally created to track American carrier strike groups. Iran also has the Khayyam satellite, launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome, with a resolution of one meter. Russia has also upgraded Iranian Shahed drones with the Kometa-B navigation system, which has anti-jamming protection. However, analysts note that Russian assistance has its limits — Iranian drone operations have dropped from 250 per day in early March to approximately 50, suggesting depleting stockpiles. Al Jazeera ↗

According to Iranian authorities, more than 1,937 people have died in Iran from American-Israeli strikes since the conflict began on February 28. More than 1,100 people have died in Lebanon, and 18 in Israel. According to NBC News, American and Israeli airstrikes have damaged 82,000 civilian buildings in 20 Iranian provinces. NBC News ↗

International attention is focused on the attack on a girls' elementary school in Minab on the first day of the war, which killed more than 170 students and teachers. A mother who lost two children addressed the UN Human Rights Council. High Commissioner Volker Türk called on Washington to conclude its investigation and publish the results. Representatives of the US and Israel did not attend the session. Al Jazeera ↗