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Iran claims to have blown up a U.S. ammo depot in the UAE

Iran Claims Strike on U.S. Ammo Depot in UAE; Israel Launches Attacks on Tehran

(NLDO) — Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it struck a U.S. ammunition depot at Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates as part of its “True Promise 4” operation.

Iran expands attacks across the Gulf

According to Tasnim, powerful explosions rocked the base on March 16, prompting U.S. forces to evacuate personnel and relocate fighter jets to other facilities.

In an earlier statement, the IRGC claimed its retaliatory strikes had destroyed more than 80% of U.S. strategic radar systems and key infrastructure at American military bases in the region.

Iran tuyên bố làm nổ kho đạn Mỹ ở UAE, tàu chở dầu trúng không kích ở vịnh Oman - Ảnh 1.

Radar image released by Iran allegedly shows a heavily damaged U.S. military base in the Middle East — Photo: Tasnim

Targets across the UAE, both onshore and offshore, remained under attack on March 17.

State news agency WAM reported that drones triggered explosions and fires at an oil storage facility in Fujairah, a major energy hub in the UAE.

A tanker anchored off the country’s eastern coast was also struck in an air attack the same day, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The vessel, located in the Gulf of Oman, sustained minor structural damage, with no reported injuries.

Also on March 17, two security officials said four drones targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, early in the morning but were intercepted by the U.S. C-RAM air defense system.

However, debris from the intercept reportedly struck the embassy compound.

Another airstrike appeared to hit a house inside the heavily fortified presidential complex in Baghdad’s al-Jadriya district.

Other Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar and Kuwait, were also targeted by Iranian strikes on March 16 and 17.

Missiles launched from Iran — Photo: Tasnim

Israel strikes Tehran and Beirut

On the same day, the Israeli military announced on Instagram that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had launched large-scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure across Tehran, as well as Hezbollah targets in Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.

According to Al Jazeera, Israeli airstrikes hit several towns in southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA) reported that Israeli aircraft targeted Taybe, Majadel, and Zibqin before expanding strikes to Yater and Kafra.

Beyond drones, Iran has continued deploying advanced missile systems. In a statement on March 15, the IRGC said it used the Sejjil-2 missile for the first time in strikes against Israel — a weapon Tehran described as a “nightmare” even for the United States.

Iran Warns Ukraine It Could Become a ‘Legitimate Target’ Over Alleged Drone Support to Israel
Iran Warns Ukraine It Could Become a ‘Legitimate Target’ Over Alleged Drone Support to Israel Tensions escalated dramatically after a senior Iranian official issued a stark warning to Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of siding with Israel in the ongoing regional conflict. The statement has raised fears that the war’s geopolitical ripple effects could extend far beyond the Middle East. According to Iranian officials, Ukraine’s alleged support involving drone technology for Israel would effectively make the country a direct participant in the conflict. Tehran argues that such assistance crosses the line from political support into military involvement. The warning came from Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s parliament, who posted the message on social media platform X. In the post, he accused Ukraine of aligning itself with what he described as the “Israeli regime” during a critical moment of confrontation. Ghalibaf claimed that by assisting Israel with drone capabilities, Ukraine had effectively entered the war. He argued that such actions would allow Iran to treat Ukrainian territory as a potential military target under international law. To support his argument, the Iranian official cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which outlines the right of nations to self-defense if they face armed aggression. Tehran’s interpretation suggests that any state aiding Israel militarily could be considered part of the battlefield. Ukraine has not publicly confirmed the accusations. Officials in Kyiv have previously denied involvement in military operations related to the Israel-Iran confrontation, maintaining that the country is focused on defending its own territory amid its war with Russia. Analysts say the threat reflects the widening geopolitical fault lines emerging around the Israel–Iran confrontation. If more countries become indirectly involved through military support, the conflict could transform into a broader international crisis. Iran and Israel have traded accusations and threats for years, but the latest exchange signals a potentially dangerous expansion of rhetoric. Bringing Ukraine into the dispute adds another volatile dimension to an already fragile global security landscape. Western observers warn that such statements, even if largely rhetorical, could further inflame tensions and complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the Middle East conflict from spiraling into a multi-front global confrontation.