A wave of Iranian drone and missile strikes has targeted Dubai, Fujairah, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in retaliation for the US-Israeli "Epic Wrath" operation. Concurrently, the Israeli army has launched a ground incursion into southern Lebanon.
Regional War Expands to Gulf Infrastructure
The regional conflict following the US-Israeli "Epic Wrath" operation has severely impacted the Gulf, with Iranian-aligned forces launching massive drone and missile swarms at the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In the UAE,
قناة الجزيرة reported a drone strike on
Dubai International Airport that hit a fuel tank, sparking a fire and prompting a
"temporary suspension of all flights". The UAE's official
وكالة أنباء الإمارات "وام" confirmed a fire in the Fujairah petroleum industries zone following a drone strike, while a
civilian was killed in Abu Dhabi's Al Bahyah area by a falling missile. Meanwhile,
أخبار السعودية relayed defense ministry claims of intercepting up to 64 drones targeting the Eastern Province and Riyadh. Conversely, the heavily pro-resistance channel
نايا - NAYA celebrated the attacks, asserting that
suicide drones repeatedly "pounded" the US-operated Prince Sultan Air Base.
Direct Iranian Missile Strikes on Israel
Simultaneously, Iran launched direct missile strikes targeting central and southern Israel, including Tel Aviv, the Negev, Beersheba, and Dimona.
قناة الميادين | عاجل, a channel aligned with the Axis of Resistance, highlighted Israeli settlers' complaints that they
only heard explosions without receiving prior alerts. Palestinian outlets like
شبكة قدس الإخبارية and
فلسطين بوست circulated footage of what they described as an
"Iranian cluster missile" crossing the skies and falling in central Israel following the alleged "failure of air defenses."
Israeli Ground Incursion in Lebanon
On the northern front, the Israeli army announced that its 91st Division commenced a "limited" ground operation into southern Lebanon. According to
التلفزيون العربي - عاجل, quoting Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli military official stated the
fighting in Lebanon could last until the end of May, with requests submitted to mobilize up to 450,000 reservists. In response,
الإعلام الحربي في المقاومة الإسلامية (Hezbollah's War Media) announced multiple rocket and artillery barrages
"defending Lebanon and its people," targeting gatherings of "enemy soldiers" at the Al-Ajal heights, Hounin gate, and a newly established site in Aitaroun. Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon continued, with
Lebanon News 🇱🇧 أخبار لبنان والعالم reporting strikes on Kfar Sir that killed three Islamic Health Authority paramedics.
Information Warfare and Diplomatic Rhetoric
The rhetoric between Washington and Tehran has escalated alongside the military action. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. is heavily bombing Iran's drone manufacturing sector, accusing Tehran of utilizing artificial intelligence and "corrupt media" to
fabricate military achievements and fake protests to hide their military's devastation, according to
سبوتنيك عربي | Sputnik Arabic. Conversely, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned Israel's recent bombing of fuel depots in Tehran as an
"environmental genocide" and a war crime that will cause long-term health damage to the city's residents.