US Says 16 Iranian Mine-Laying Ships Destroyed as Drones Injure Four Near Dubai Airport
Tensions across the Middle East escalated further on Wednesday as the United States announced it had destroyed 16 Iranian vessels suspected of preparing to lay naval mines near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while drone incidents near Dubai International Airport injured four people.
The US military’s Central Command said the vessels were targeted during ongoing operations aimed at preventing Iran from mining the narrow waterway, a crucial global shipping route through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply normally passes.
The action follows earlier warnings from Donald Trump that any attempt by Iran to deploy mines in the Strait of Hormuz would be met with force.
US officials released footage showing several Iranian naval vessels exploding after being struck by projectiles. American military leaders have previously said that dismantling Iran’s naval capability is one of the key objectives of the ongoing campaign against Tehran.
Drone incident near Dubai airport
Meanwhile, authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported that two drones fell close to Dubai International Airport, injuring four foreign nationals.
Officials said an Indian citizen sustained moderate injuries, while two Ghanaians and one Bangladeshi suffered minor wounds. Despite the incident, airport authorities confirmed that air traffic continued without disruption.
Witnesses at the airport said passengers were temporarily asked to move away from glass windows and take shelter in safer areas after the drones landed nearby.
Shipping attacks in the Gulf
The regional maritime security situation has also deteriorated. The United Kingdom’s maritime monitoring agency reported that at least three commercial vessels were struck by unidentified projectiles in waters around the Gulf.
One cargo ship caught fire after being hit north of Oman, forcing crew members to evacuate, while another container ship near the UAE coast was damaged but its crew remained safe.
Authorities are investigating the incidents and advising ships to travel cautiously through the area.
Iran expands regional strikes
At the same time, Iran launched another wave of missile and drone attacks across the region, according to state media reports. Targets reportedly included US military bases in Qatar, Kuwait and Iraq, as well as military installations in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
Saudi officials said they intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones heading toward a military air base and an oil field. Sirens also sounded in Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet.
Israeli strikes intensify in Lebanon
Amid the widening conflict, Israeli forces also carried out fresh strikes in Lebanon, targeting what they described as Hezbollah command centers and weapons depots in the southern suburbs of Beirut and the coastal city of Tyre. Lebanese health authorities reported casualties following air raids in several areas.
The escalating exchanges of attacks between Iran, the US, Israel and regional actors have heightened fears that the conflict could further disrupt global energy supplies and international shipping routes.
