Quick Read
- Iran launched drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and US bases in the UAE and Kuwait on Saturday.
- Israel conducted fresh strikes on Tehran and hit Hezbollah targets in eastern Lebanon, killing 41.
- Iran’s President Pezeshkian apologized to neighbors for attacks but defied US demands for surrender.
- US President Donald Trump threatened ‘very hard’ strikes against Iran, considering new target areas.
- The Arab League will convene Sunday to discuss ‘Iranian attacks on Arab territories,’ while Russia’s Putin called for an immediate halt to hostilities.
TEHRAN (Azat TV) – Iran and Israel engaged in widespread cross-border military exchanges on Saturday, March 7, marking a critical escalation in the ongoing conflict. These sustained retaliatory actions, involving missile and drone strikes across Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and Gulf states, have significantly heightened regional security pressure and raised immediate concerns about civilian safety, airspace, shipping, and the potential for broader expansion.
The intensified fighting follows a week of hostilities that began after the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in late February. Official statements and strike reports are now updating hourly, with audiences closely tracking whether the conflict moves toward containment or broader escalation.
Escalation Across the Region
Throughout Saturday, Iran’s military launched a wave of drone and missile strikes, targeting Israel and US bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that the Iranian navy struck American facilities, including the Al-Minhad base in the UAE and another US facility in Kuwait, alongside what Tehran described as a strategic site in Israel. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) later confirmed targeting the Al-Dhafra air base in the UAE, hitting its air warfare center, satellite communications systems, and radar facilities. Iran’s IRGC also claimed its forces targeted a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf, signaling a threat to international shipping lanes.
Simultaneously, Israel launched fresh strikes on Tehran overnight. Explosions were reported across the Iranian capital by Iranian news agency ISNA, with state media claiming heavy damage nationwide, including two hospitals in the southwestern province of Khuzestan. An official in Isfahan reported eight civilian deaths. Israel’s military also confirmed hitting Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, including rocket launchers, weapons depots, and command centers of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan Force.
Air defense systems across the region were highly active. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry reported intercepting ballistic missiles fired toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which houses US personnel, and at least 17 drones targeting the Shaybah oil field. Qatar’s Defence Ministry stated its armed forces intercepted a missile attack, and previously reported intercepting nine out of ten drones fired from Iran on Friday. Bahrain also activated sirens, urging residents to seek shelter, as blasts were heard in both Manama and Dubai, where an aerial interception briefly disrupted operations at Dubai International Airport, according to AFP news agency.
In southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed that Israeli strikes overnight killed at least 41 people and wounded 40 others in the Baalbek district. Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, claimed responsibility for two attacks on Israeli positions, including a missile barrage at the Tzrifin base east of Acre and rockets fired near the Fatima Gate crossing.
Diplomatic Fallout and International Appeals
The escalating conflict has triggered a wave of international diplomatic reactions. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an immediate halt to the hostilities during a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, reiterating Russia’s commitment to a diplomatic resolution. Putin also expressed condolences over the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and numerous civilian casualties, emphasizing Russia’s solidarity with the Iranian people.
The Arab League is scheduled to hold an emergency virtual meeting on Sunday at the foreign ministerial level to discuss ‘Iranian attacks on some Arab territories.’ Requested by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, and Egypt, the meeting follows Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit’s condemnation of the Iranian attacks as ‘fully reprehensible’ and a ‘blatant violation of international law.’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, part of an interim leadership council, delivered a prerecorded speech on state television, stating Iran would ‘never surrender’ to Israel or the United States, calling demands for unconditional surrender ‘a dream they should take to their grave.’ However, he also apologized to neighboring countries for Iranian attacks, promising they would not be targeted unless strikes originated from their territory. Saudi Arabia’s defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, urged Tehran to ‘avoid miscalculation’ after the missile and drone attacks targeting the kingdom.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Ghana condemned an attack on a UNIFIL base in southern Lebanon that wounded several Ghanaian peacekeepers, calling for accountability and respect for UN personnel safety.
Civilian Impact and Economic Disruptions
The widespread military exchanges have had immediate civilian and economic consequences. In Tehran, Iranian state media reported that the Razi medical center in Ahvaz and the Imam Ali hospital in Andimeshk were badly damaged by blast waves from air attacks, though these claims could not be independently verified. Lebanon’s Health Ministry confirmed dozens of civilian casualties from Israeli strikes in its eastern regions.
The disruption extended to critical infrastructure. Dubai International Airport, a major global hub, briefly suspended operations following an aerial interception in its vicinity, later partially resuming flights with warnings for passengers to confirm travel plans. Rising oil prices were also noted amid the regional instability.
In a humanitarian gesture, India allowed an Iranian naval vessel, the IRIS Lavan, to dock at its port in Kochi, confirmed Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. This came after a US strike off the coast of Sri Lanka killed at least 87 people on another Iranian navy frigate, the Dena, which US President Donald Trump had stated was part of destroying Iran’s navy.
US Stance and Russian Involvement
US President Donald Trump issued stark warnings to Iran, threatening ‘very hard’ strikes and considering ‘complete destruction’ of new target areas and groups of people due to Iran’s ‘bad behavior.’ Trump also claimed that Iran’s apology to its neighbors was a result of ‘relentless U.S. and Israeli attack,’ and reiterated his demand for Iran’s unconditional surrender to America.
Reports from AP news agency and The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, indicated that Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence that could assist Tehran in striking US warships, aircraft, and other assets in the region. While the White House downplayed the immediate impact, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated it was ‘not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.’ Defense Secretary Hegseth added that the US was ‘tracking everything’ and factoring it into battle plans.
The current phase of the Iran-Israel conflict demonstrates a significant shift from isolated incidents to a pattern of sustained, reciprocal military engagement across the Middle East. The widespread nature of attacks and counter-attacks, impacting multiple sovereign states and international interests, underscores the fragility of regional security and the urgent need for de-escalation efforts to prevent further civilian harm and economic disruption.