International Desk, Mar 11 (EFE).- Iran said it launched its “most devastating and hardest” wave of attacks since the start of the conflict early Wednesday, targeting Israel and US-linked sites across the region, as oil prices continued to fall amid growing uncertainty over the war and the security of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Questions also remain about the future of the Iranian women’s national football team, whose players are currently in Malaysia after leaving Australia, where some members sought asylum following criticism at home for refusing to sing the national anthem during an Asian Cup match.
Here are the latest developments in the conflict:
Wave of attacks across the Gulf
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said Wednesday that it intercepted an unspecified number of missiles following Iranian strikes targeting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
Saudi Arabia reported a wave of missiles and drones aimed at oil facilities, a military base, and other locations in the country.
The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were responding to a missile threat, while Kuwait’s army reported detecting “five hostile drones” that had entered the country’s airspace.
Iran claims “most devastating wave”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had launched the “most devastating and hardest” wave of attacks since the start of the war.
According to the force, missiles struck an Israeli communications center in southern Tel Aviv as well as military facilities in Jerusalem and Haifa.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed detecting missiles launched from Iran but did not specify the targets. Israel’s emergency service, Magen David Adom (MDA), reported no casualties.
Iran also said it targeted “enemy American-Zionist bases” in Erbil, the main city of Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
In Baghdad, a drone struck a large logistics complex used by US diplomatic personnel in an attack initially attributed to pro-Iranian militias.
Clashes in southern Lebanon
The Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah and Israeli troops clashed again Wednesday in southern Lebanon, which was also hit by heavy Israeli airstrikes that killed at least nine people and injured 13.
The clashes came as the Israeli military announced plans to bomb Hezbollah “infrastructure” in the southern suburbs of Beirut, a stronghold of the group.
Strait of Hormuz under scrutiny
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO), which monitors maritime security, said a container ship had been hit by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global energy trade.
Meanwhile, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had destroyed “multiple Iranian warships,” including 16 vessels believed to be capable of laying naval mines, accusing Tehran of threatening freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway.
Oil falls, markets rise
Despite the escalation, and speculation from the United States and Israel that the conflict could be nearing an end, oil prices continued to fall.
Brent crude dropped 11.28 percent to $87.80 per barrel, while US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell 11.94 percent to $83.45.
Asian stock markets reacted positively to the drop in oil prices, with Japan’s Nikkei index rising nearly 2 percent at the opening of trading on Wednesday.
A divided Iranian team
The Iranian women’s national team is currently in Malaysia after leaving Australia, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed Wednesday to EFE.
The team departed Australia following controversy after several players refused to sing the national anthem before an Asian Cup match, prompting Iranian state media to label them “traitors.”
One of the seven players who had initially accepted humanitarian protection in Australia later decided to return to Iran. It remains unclear whether the rest of the team will travel from Malaysia back to their country.
No new attacks reported in Tehran
Despite remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggesting Tuesday could become the most intense day of bombings in Iran since the war began, no additional attacks were reported overnight beyond those already announced by the Israeli army earlier Tuesday. EFE
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