(BAGHDAD, IRAQ) – An Iranian backed militia has carried out what appears to be the first fibre optic controlled FPV drone incursion inside a United States military installation in Iraq, signalling a potential shift in battlefield technology and exposure of base level vulnerabilities.
Footage shows the drone flying undetected within Victory Base near Baghdad International Airport, surveying infrastructure including warehouses, transport vehicles, aircraft hangars and logistics equipment. Analysts note that fibre optic drones are resistant to electronic jamming, making them difficult to counter with conventional electronic warfare systems. The device appeared to cause minimal physical damage but demonstrated the ability to penetrate sensitive areas without interception.
The incident comes amid a broader escalation of Iranian activity across the Middle East. Strikes were reported on oil infrastructure at Fujairah Port in the United Arab Emirates, a key hub responsible for roughly half of the country’s oil exports. The attacks are widely viewed as an attempt to disrupt global energy markets and increase pressure on Washington through rising oil prices.
Recent data indicates Iran launched 28 missiles and 72 drones on 13 March, with a shift towards increased drone usage as missile launch infrastructure is degraded. Ukrainian supplied counter drone expertise has reportedly been deployed to protect strategic sites in the Gulf.
In Saudi Arabia, an Iranian strike damaged five US aerial refuelling tankers at Prince Sultan Air Base. Satellite overflight by Russian reconnaissance systems shortly before the attack has raised suspicions of intelligence sharing between Moscow and Tehran.
Separately, US Central Command confirmed a KC 135 refuelling aircraft crash in western Iraq on 12 March, resulting in four fatalities. The incident was attributed to an accident rather than hostile action.
In response, the United States has targeted Iranian military infrastructure, including facilities on Kharg Island, which accounts for approximately 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports. However, strikes have avoided oil production sites, suggesting a calibrated approach aimed at signalling capability without triggering further market instability.
US forces also struck military docks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic location used for deploying fast attack craft and laying naval mines.
Despite concerns over munitions expenditure, the US retains significant reserves, with approximately 3,800 Tomahawk missiles remaining after limited usage in the current conflict.
Washington is deploying a 2,500 strong Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Tripoli, although analysts caution that such a force would be insufficient for sustained operations on Iranian controlled islands and could face significant risk from drone and missile attacks.
Efforts to secure international support for escorting oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have largely failed. France and Norway have declined participation, while other allies remain undecided. India has deployed naval vessels to escort its own energy shipments.
Iran retains the capacity to escalate further through allied Houthi forces in Yemen, which could threaten the Bab al Mandab strait, a critical route linked to the Suez Canal. Closure of both chokepoints would severely disrupt global oil supply chains.
Reports also suggest Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is receiving medical treatment in Moscow, underscoring close ties with Russia. Moscow is expected to benefit economically, with projected additional oil revenues of between 10 billion US dollars and 15 billion US dollars.
In a separate development, Cuba has announced negotiations with the United States over a potential trade agreement, marking a significant geopolitical shift.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to intersect with the war in Ukraine. A Greek flagged tanker was damaged near Novorossiysk, and Ukrainian forces struck Russian logistics vessels in the Kerch Strait, disrupting supply lines. Footage also confirmed the destruction of a missile assembly facility in occupied Donetsk using Storm Shadow missiles.
