(TEHRAN) – Military escalation between the United States and Iran intensified over the weekend as air strikes, drone attacks and retaliatory strikes spread across the Middle East, affecting oil markets, military bases and civilian infrastructure. Ukraine has also announced plans to send air defence specialists to assist United States personnel facing drone threats in the region.
Footage circulating online showed large fires and heavy smoke across Tehran, the Iranian capital. Strikes reportedly targeted locations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Daytime images showed thick smoke rising over the city skyline.
One major incident involved an oil storage facility near Tehran. Following an Israeli air strike on Saturday, semi refined petroleum products reportedly leaked into storm drainage systems. Witnesses reported that the fuel later ignited within the underground pipes, causing fires to erupt in streets above.
Israeli officials confirmed that the strikes included attacks on oil infrastructure, airports and military assets connected to the Revolutionary Guard. Satellite images indicated that at least 17 aircraft were damaged or destroyed at Tehran’s Mehrabad airport during the attack.
The Israeli military stated that 16 aircraft linked to the Revolutionary Guard were destroyed. These planes were allegedly used to transport weapons to the Lebanese group Hezbollah.
Another strike targeted the eighth air base in Isfahan. Reports indicated that the remaining Iranian F 14 Tomcat aircraft were destroyed during the attack. Iran was the last country still operating the Cold War era fighter jet originally supplied by the United States before the 1979 Iranian revolution.
The conflict also expanded to civilian infrastructure. The United States reportedly struck a desalination plant on Qeshm Island in southern Iran. These facilities provide fresh water for much of the local population. Iran responded with a strike on a desalination facility in Bahrain, disrupting drinking water supplies for residents there.
Despite extensive attacks on Iranian military infrastructure, Western analysts say the primary objective remains Iran’s nuclear programme. International inspectors estimate that Iran possesses approximately 441 kilograms of near weapons grade enriched uranium. This quantity could potentially be sufficient for roughly 11 nuclear weapons.
However, the precise location of this material remains unknown. Analysts say that unless the uranium is located and secured, the possibility of future weapons development remains.
One significant oil export hub remains untouched. Kharg Island, located about 25 kilometres off Iran’s southern coast, handles approximately two million barrels of oil exports per day and accounts for about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil shipments.
Neither the United States nor Israel has struck the facility so far. Analysts suggest that destroying the island’s export infrastructure could cause a major spike in global oil prices.
Nevertheless, energy markets have already reacted strongly to the conflict. Oil prices rose sharply over the weekend and analysts warned they could exceed $100 per barrel.
Iran has also launched retaliatory attacks targeting energy infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf states including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Fires were reported at oil storage facilities belonging to the Bahrain Oil Company following drone strikes.
Satellite imagery released by Chinese sources showed damage to Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates after missile and drone attacks. The base hosts aircraft from the UAE air force and allied forces.
Other strikes reportedly targeted United States missile defence systems in the region. One image showed the destruction of a radar system associated with a THAAD missile defence battery in Jordan. These systems are among the most expensive air defence platforms in the world.
Only eight THAAD batteries are operated by the United States globally. The United Arab Emirates operates two and Saudi Arabia operates one.
Analysts say Iran would have difficulty striking such precise targets without external intelligence support. Some Western commentators believe that Russia and China may have provided satellite data used in the attacks.
Iran has also reportedly struck several United States satellite communications facilities in the region.
Amid these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv will send air defence experts to assist American forces facing drone threats.
Zelensky said Ukraine has received requests regarding assistance to protect civilians and United States soldiers stationed in several Middle Eastern countries.
He said Ukrainian specialists will travel to the region to assess the situation and deploy systems capable of intercepting Iranian Shahed drones. Ukrainian forces have gained extensive experience countering these drones during Russia’s full scale invasion.
Zelensky stated that the cooperation could benefit both sides but said it was still too early to disclose operational details.
Data from the conflict suggests Iranian missile and drone attacks have decreased significantly. Early in the conflict Iran launched roughly 500 drones and missiles per day, but by the sixth day the number had dropped below 50.
The conflict has also affected global energy markets. To stabilise oil supplies, the United States has temporarily eased sanctions to allow India to purchase Russian seaborne crude for a period of 30 days.
Analysts estimate Russia could earn an additional $10 billion to $15 billion per month from rising oil and gas prices during the crisis.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has removed approximately 20 million barrels per day from global supply. Analysts say this represents the largest oil supply shock in modern history, surpassing the 1978 Iranian revolution and the Gulf War disruptions.
Commodity prices across shipping, agriculture, fertilisers and energy have risen as a result.
Air travel routes between Europe and Asia have also been disrupted. With Iranian airspace closed, Ukrainian airspace already closed due to the war, and Western airlines avoiding Russian territory, flight routes between the regions have become significantly longer.
In the Baltic Sea, Swedish authorities boarded and detained a tanker from Russia’s so called shadow fleet suspected of violating maritime regulations. Swedish special forces secured the vessel after approaching by boat and helicopter.
Meanwhile, footage from Moscow showed the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin struggling with coughing during a recorded International Women’s Day address. The longer version of the recording was reportedly released accidentally by state media.
On the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian forces struck Russian positions at Donetsk airport using Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Drone footage showed significant explosions at facilities used to launch attack drones.
Ukrainian forces also reported destroying an ammunition depot near the airport on 8 March.
In southern Russia, Ukrainian drones struck the Armavir Linear Production and Dispatching Station in the Krasnodar region. The facility pumps oil across the Kerch bridge to occupied Crimea and southern Ukraine.
Satellite fire monitoring systems recorded multiple heat sources at the site following the strike.
If the pumping station remains disabled, fuel supplies to Russian forces in occupied southern Ukraine and Crimea could be disrupted.
