Iran’s Central Operation Command, led by Khatam al-Anbia, has announced that over 500 American troops were targeted in recent operations, resulting in significant casualties. Lieutenant Colonel Ibrahim Zulfiqar, the command’s spokesperson, stated that the operations targeted the UAE (United Arab Emirates) where US commanders and soldiers were stationed, as well as two locations in Dubai where US troops were stationed, with over 500 personnel present at each site.
According to Zulfiqar, the Iranian forces successfully destroyed a Ukrainian anti-drone factory in Dubai, rendering the system inoperable. The system, which was being transported to support US forces, was destroyed to prevent it from being used against Iranian targets.
This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the UAE on the same day, with both sides agreeing to strengthen defense cooperation. Zulfiqar stated that US forces were forced to retreat to secret locations after suffering significant attacks, with one such location in Dubai housing over 400 US personnel and the other approximately 100 US personnel.
The Israeli military confirmed that one Israeli soldier was killed and four others were injured in a missile strike in southern Lebanon, attributed to a Hezbollah anti-tank missile attack. Iran claimed that the two locations were targeted by its Aerospace Force and Navy using precision-guided missiles and drones. According to Zulfiqar, the attacks resulted in significant casualties, with ambulances transporting injured US personnel, including commanders, for several hours.
In a statement, the Iranian operation command warned US President Donald Trump and US military leaders that the region would become a “graveyard” for US forces and that they had no other option but to surrender. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy stated that the Strait of Hormuz was closed to enemy ships and vessels, effectively cutting off US and Israeli military supply lines.
The IRGC also claimed to have targeted six US tactical vessels in the Persian Gulf, resulting in multiple US casualties. Iran maintains that the recent attacks are a response to the ongoing conflict, which began on February 28, when Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were targeted by US and Israeli forces. Iran’s forces retaliated with missile and drone attacks targeting US and Israeli interests in the region.
The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that eight civilians, including four Pakistanis, have been killed and 178 injured in the attacks. The Israeli military also targeted a Qatari news channel’s headquarters in Tehran.
The Israeli military confirmed that a 22-year-old soldier was killed in a drone strike in southern Lebanon. The Israeli forces stated that the soldier was a member of the 890th Battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade.
As tensions escalate, the US is reportedly planning a potential ground operation in Iran, with the Pentagon preparing for a possible invasion that could last several weeks. In related news, a Pakistani citizen was arrested for ramming his car into a crowd of people in the UAE.
Meanwhile, a high-level meeting of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt took place in Islamabad, with discussions focusing on repatriating Pakistani citizens from the Middle East and Europe, estimated to be worth $20 billion. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the ongoing crisis.
In other developments, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had designated two American or Israeli universities as targets in the region. The UAE police have vowed to take action against drivers operating without a license.
