Iran Attacks UAE Base with U.S., U.K., and Australian Troops

Iran Launches Attacks on Military Bases in the Gulf

Iran launched a series of overnight strikes targeting military bases across the Gulf, including one that housed British, US, and Australian troops in the United Arab Emirates. The attacks have raised concerns about regional stability and the safety of foreign military personnel stationed in the area.

A missile struck the Al Minhad Air Base, which is home to a permanent UK military facility. The incident occurred at 9:15 am AEDT on Wednesday morning. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the attack caused “minor damage” to an accommodation block and a medical facility due to a small fire that broke out after the missile hit a road leading to the base.

More than 100 Australian military personnel are currently deployed at Al Minhad, which serves as Australia’s military headquarters for the Middle East. Albanese stated that all Australian staff were “absolutely safe” following the attack. He emphasized that Australia is not at war with Iran but acknowledged that the Iranian regime is engaging in “random attacks right across the region.”

The Al Minhad Air Base has been a key operational hub for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) since 2003. However, the Australian presence there was reduced after the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. In response to the recent attack, the Department of Defence said it may consider changes to its operations at Al Minhad to address ongoing safety concerns.

“The focus is on ensuring the safety and security of our people and we will continue to revise force protection measures as the situation in the Middle East evolves,” the statement read.

This is not the first time the base has been targeted. In the early days of the conflict, it was hit by an Iranian drone strike, though no damage was reported at the time.

Albanese also addressed the recent comments made by former US President Donald Trump, who criticized American allies for not supporting the US in the conflict with Iran. Trump accused NATO, Japan, Australia, and South Korea of refusing to send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which 20% of global oil supplies pass.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for US and Israeli strikes that triggered the latest Middle East conflict. This has led to the largest oil supply disruption in history, causing commodity prices to surge worldwide.

Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his frustration with NATO and other allies. He claimed that the US does not need the assistance of any country, stating, “WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”

In response to the escalating tensions, Iran has continued its bombardment of Israel and Gulf states. The attacks included drones and missiles targeting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, as well as Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE. Missile alerts were sounded in Dubai, and the sound of interceptors exploding overhead could be heard throughout the city-state.

Saudi Arabia successfully shot down a ballistic missile targeting the Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts American forces and aircraft. A drone was also intercepted near Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, where the US Embassy and other foreign missions are located.

Iran targeted Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads, claiming it was retaliation for Israel’s assassination of security chief Ali Larijani. The weapons used included Khorramshahr 4 and Qadr missiles, both of which carried multiple warheads. The attacks resulted in the deaths of a couple in their 70s in a neighborhood close to densely populated Tel Aviv, bringing the death toll in Israel to at least 14.

Israel has continued to target Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, striking multiple apartment buildings in Beirut and killing at least six people.

This is a breaking story, and more updates are expected as the situation develops.