Iran Launches Regional Strikes on UAE Airbase and US Embassy in Baghdad

Iran launched a series of strikes across the region on March 18, 2026, hitting a UAE airbase housing Western troops, targeting the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad with drones and rockets, and firing a projectile near its own Bushehr nuclear power plant, as the conflict that began with the U.S.-Israeli Operation Epic Fury on February 28 continued to escalate. Australian authorities confirmed that an Iranian projectile struck Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, where American, British, and Australian personnel are stationed. All personnel at the base were reported safe, according to Australian authorities. Separately, a drone and rocket attack targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, with explosions heard in the area. Israeli strikes on the same day killed Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmail Khatib and hit Iran's Pars gas field, triggering fires and a surge in oil prices.

Bushehr plant area struck, no damage confirmed A projectile landed near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant on March 18, with no damage or injuries reported, according to Reuters. The plant sits along the Persian Gulf coast and has been a focal point of international concern throughout the conflict. The strike near the facility raised immediate alarm given the potential consequences of any damage to a nuclear installation. No party immediately claimed responsibility for the projectile, and Iranian authorities did not provide details on its origin. The incident added to a night of widespread regional strikes that stretched from Iraq to the UAE to Iran's own territory.

NATO adjusts Iraq mission as Baghdad embassy comes under fire The drone and rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad marked another escalation in Iraq, where Iranian-aligned groups have repeatedly targeted American positions since the war began. Explosions were heard in the area of the embassy compound, which at 104 acres is the largest U.S. diplomatic mission in the world, according to the person registry. NATO's mission in Iraq adjusted its operations to ensure the safety of its personnel following the escalating strikes across the region, according to reporting by Notícias ao Minuto. The alliance did not specify the nature of the adjustments. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is led by Chargé d'affaires ad interim Joshua Harris, according to the person registry.

Viral video claiming CIA Dubai attack debunked as false Amid the flurry of strikes, a viral video circulated online claiming to show the CIA headquarters in Dubai after an Iranian attack. A fact-check published by Observador on March 18 debunked the video, finding it did not show what it claimed. The episode illustrated the broader information environment surrounding the conflict, in which unverified footage spreads rapidly across social media platforms. Esmail Khatib, who served as Iran's Minister of Intelligence from August 2021 until his death, was confirmed killed in an Israeli airstrike on March 18, according to the person registry. Khatib, born in 1961, was the eighth official to hold the post of intelligence minister in Iran. Iran's Pars gas field — described as the world's largest shared gas deposit — was also struck, causing fires and pushing oil prices higher, according to reporting cited in the verification log.

The current conflict began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Ali Khamenei, Iran's longtime Supreme Leader, was killed in the initial strikes. His son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. The war has drawn in regional actors and triggered repeated strikes on U.S. and Western positions across Iraq and the Gulf. Iran's Pars gas field, targeted on March 18, is described as the world's largest shared gas deposit.

false: A viral video claiming to show the CIA headquarters in Dubai after an Iranian attack was debunked by Observador on March 18, 2026. The video did not show what it claimed. (Observador fact-check)

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