Iran has launched attacks targeting US troops and officials across several Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. In response, the United States has evacuated multiple bases and repositioned its forces strategically, leading to a severe housing shortage. Many American soldiers are now taking refuge in residential areas and hotels across the region.

According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence branch has urged local populations to report the locations of US troops hiding in civilian areas. The IRGC statement claimed that thousands of American soldiers are staying in hotels and private homes, accusing Washington of using Arab civilians as human shields. The statement warned residents to avoid contact with these troops and to share information about their whereabouts via Telegram.

Separately, a French soldier was killed and several others were seriously injured in an attack in Iraq’s Kurdistan region. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the assault as unacceptable and said necessary measures were being taken.

Casualty figures from the ongoing Middle East conflict have risen sharply, according to the latest report published on March 12, 2026. The report indicates that at least 2,008 people have been killed and more than 13,500 injured across several countries. Iran has suffered the highest losses, with at least 1,255 dead and over 12,000 injured. Lebanon reported 634 deaths and more than 1,500 injuries, while Israel recorded 14 deaths. The United States confirmed the deaths of seven military personnel.

Additional casualties were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and Iraq. Kuwait recorded six deaths, including two soldiers and an 11-year-old girl. Iraq reported 26 deaths, mostly among pro-Iran fighters. The data was sourced from Al Jazeera and reflects the widespread human toll of the conflict.

The report also mentioned related developments, including Israel’s claim of striking Iran’s nuclear facilities and multiple attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the regional escalation.

An AFP analysis reported that at least 25 Iranian attacks targeted US facilities or personnel across the Middle East since the start of the war. The incidents occurred between February 28 and March 11, 1500 GMT. Four of the attacks targeted US embassies or consulates in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq, while 21 others involved missile or drone strikes on 13 different military sites hosting US troops. Among the targeted locations were Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base and Iraq’s Erbil Airport, each attacked at least four times. Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base and the UAE’s Al Dhafra Air Base were also hit twice each.

The analysis excluded seven additional attacks claimed against radar systems or US-operated missile defense networks. Satellite imagery confirmed damage from 12 of the recorded attacks, with the latest images dated March 5. Afterward, high-resolution satellite image access was restricted by US suppliers citing allied security concerns.

Separately, AFP noted around 30 attacks on energy infrastructure in the region since the conflict began, more than half attributed to Tehran, including 16 strikes across seven Gulf countries.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported on Wednesday that the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector is losing at least $600 million per day due to the ongoing war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The council attributed the losses to disrupted air travel, declining tourist confidence, and broken regional connectivity, which have sharply reduced demand across the region.

According to the WTTC statement, the Middle East accounts for 5 percent of global tourism and 14 percent of international transit traffic. Major airports such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain typically handle around 526,000 passengers daily, but have faced nearly two weeks of paralysis and disorder. This disruption has also affected global air travel, driving up ticket prices on many routes.

The council noted that the region had projected $207 billion in revenue from international tourists in 2026. It warned that any interruption in travel flows can quickly and severely impact the tourism ecosystem.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that more than 1,100 children have been killed or injured since the outbreak of intensified fighting in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. In a statement released on Thursday, UNICEF said the violence began on February 28 and has created a “catastrophic situation” for children across the region.

According to UNICEF, around 200 children have been killed in Iran, 91 in Lebanon, four in Israel, and one in Kuwait during this period. The agency warned that the number of child casualties could rise if the conflict continues to escalate. It also noted that millions of children are unable to attend school, and hundreds of thousands of people, including many children, have been displaced by ongoing bombardments.

UNICEF emphasized that there is no justification for killing or maiming children or for destroying essential services they rely on. The organization said nearly 200 million children in the Middle East are now looking to the global community for urgent action.

A series of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East has left at least 12 civilians dead, most of them foreign migrant workers. The violence followed a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28, prompting Iran to target American military bases and embassies in several Gulf countries. Among the victims were Pakistani driver Murib Zaman in the United Arab Emirates, Bangladeshi cleaner Mosharraf Hossain in Saudi Arabia, and an 11-year-old Iranian girl in Kuwait. Only one of the reported fatalities was a local citizen.

The Gulf region’s economies rely heavily on millions of migrant workers from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, who make up a large share of the population. Despite advanced air defense systems, Iranian missiles and drones have struck civilian infrastructure, including hotels and a water purification plant. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry confirmed a March 10 attack that killed a 29-year-old woman, while Iran maintained it was only targeting U.S. military facilities.

Low-wage migrant workers remain the most vulnerable, as their crowded housing and essential service jobs leave them exposed to missile strikes and fires with few safe evacuation options.

Three cargo ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, according to a report by AFP. The British Maritime Security Agency (UKMTO) confirmed that all three vessels were struck by unidentified objects, causing damage. One of the ships caught fire, prompting the evacuation of most of its crew members.

Maritime security sources said the Thai-flagged bulk carrier 'Mayuri Nari' was hit about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, while the Japanese-flagged container ship 'One Majesty' sustained minor damage 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. A third vessel, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier 'Star Gwyneth,' was also damaged about 50 miles northwest of Dubai. UKMTO later reported that the fire on the damaged vessel had been extinguished and no environmental disaster occurred.

All crew members from the affected ships were reported safe, and the damaged vessels were moving toward secure anchorage points for further assessment.

A wave of drone and missile attacks targeting Saudi Arabia early Wednesday has intensified instability across the Middle East. According to international media reports, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry said its air defense systems intercepted two drones over Hafar al-Batin and six ballistic missiles aimed at Prince Sultan Air Base, all destroyed midair with no casualties reported. The attacks came amid heightened military activity in Iran, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the Strait of Hormuz.

Inside Iran, police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan warned that protesters responding to foreign calls would be treated as enemies, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s social media appeal urging Iranians to rise against their government. Hours later, Iranian missiles struck near Tel Aviv, injuring several people, while Israel launched fresh airstrikes in southern Beirut. Kuwait and Bahrain also reported drone incursions and raised alert levels.

The United States claimed its forces destroyed ten Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz to prevent mine-laying. The escalating exchanges of airstrikes, drone attacks, and maritime confrontations have spread tension throughout the region, with no sign of de-escalation.

Around 62 million people, mostly foreign workers, are currently stranded in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel war against Iran. The GCC nations—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates—collectively host about 35 million foreign residents, most of whom come from South Asia.

Foreign workers have long been a vital part of the GCC labor force, contributing to sectors such as construction, domestic work, security, and sanitation, as well as skilled industries like banking, technology, aviation, and healthcare. According to Global Media Insight, the largest expatriate groups in the region are from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Yemen, Sudan, Nepal, Syria, and Sri Lanka.

Saudi Arabia hosts the largest foreign population, followed by the UAE and Kuwait. These expatriates play a crucial role in building and maintaining the Gulf’s modern infrastructure and economy, with many considering the region their second home despite not being citizens.

More than 23,000 flights have been canceled across the Middle East as the Iran-US-Israel conflict entered its eleventh day on Tuesday, March 11, 2026. The ongoing hostilities have severely disrupted global air travel, affecting routes to and from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other regions. Airlines in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have been hit hardest, with six major carriers canceling 2,381 flights daily, leaving millions of passengers stranded.

According to data cited by Pakistan’s The Express Tribune, the six largest Middle Eastern airlines—Etihad, Air Arabia, Flydubai, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Kuwait Airways—normally transport millions of passengers worldwide. Before the conflict, these carriers operated hundreds of daily flights across Europe, America, Canada, India, Australia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. However, in the past ten days, only 50 special flights have managed to operate.

The Iran-US conflict has already caused financial losses worth millions for these airlines, with no immediate sign of recovery in regional air connectivity.

Iran has carried out attacks targeting Israel’s oil and gas infrastructure, according to a spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Armed Forces Headquarters. The strikes reportedly hit refineries and storage tanks in the northern city of Haifa, as well as a satellite communication center near Tel Aviv. The announcement was made on March 11, 2026.

Iran’s military stated that the operation was part of the 33rd phase of its campaign named “Operation True Promise-4.” The attacks were described as retaliation for earlier strikes on Iranian oil depots. The report was cited by Al Jazeera and published by the outlet Amar Desh Online.

The incident marks another escalation in the ongoing hostilities between Iran and Israel, with both sides targeting critical energy and communication infrastructure in recent exchanges.

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency claimed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been killed or seriously injured, sparking renewed tension across the Middle East. The report, published on Monday, offered no concrete evidence. Israeli authorities dismissed the claim as wartime propaganda or conspiracy theory. The Iranian report cited Netanyahu’s absence from recent video messages and heightened security around his Jerusalem residence as signs of concern. It also linked the postponement of visits by U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Netanyahu’s alleged condition.

The report further referenced former U.S. intelligence officer Scott Ritter, who alleged through Russian media that Iran had bombed Netanyahu’s secret location, killing his brother. Tasnim News admitted that no official confirmation or denial had been issued. Analysts described the rumor as part of psychological warfare amid ongoing Iran-Israel hostilities. Meanwhile, a statement about Netanyahu’s phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron lacked a date, adding to the uncertainty.

According to the Jerusalem Post, citing close sources, Netanyahu continues his official duties, though his movements are being kept discreet for security reasons.

Fresh waves of attacks swept across the Middle East on Monday, marking the tenth day of the Iran war. Following a joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran, Tehran launched new assaults targeting Israel and several Gulf countries. Al Jazeera reported one Israeli fatality from Iranian rocket fire. Hours after Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran’s new Supreme Leader, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced new missile operations. Israel responded with airstrikes on Iranian targets, claiming to have killed senior Quds Force commanders in Beirut.

According to Reuters and CNN, explosions were heard in Tehran and Beirut, where fires broke out in a hotel. Bahrain’s main oil refinery was hit by a drone attack injuring 32 people, including a two-month-old infant. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar all reported intercepting drones or missiles near key energy facilities. Iran’s foreign ministry dismissed accusations of attacks on Turkey, Cyprus, and Azerbaijan, calling some claims staged.

Iranian officials ruled out ceasefire talks, saying mediation was meaningless under current conditions, as regional tensions continued to escalate.

Iran carried out missile and drone attacks on several Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, early Sunday local time. In Qatar, multiple explosions were heard around 3 a.m. in Doha, though the missiles were reportedly intercepted. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Doha reported hearing more than a dozen blasts across the city.

Bahrain’s state media said a drone strike in the Sitra area injured 32 people. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that several drone attacks targeting the Shaybah oil fields were intercepted, and two drones were shot down north of Riyadh. The United Arab Emirates was also targeted by Iranian strikes, though details were not specified.

The attacks mark a significant escalation in regional tensions, with multiple Gulf states reporting direct strikes or attempted strikes within hours of each other.

Israel’s February 2026 assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, hailed domestically as a Mossad triumph, was in fact a joint US-Israeli operation, according to multiple analysts cited by Al Jazeera. The mission, which also killed senior Iranian military figures, depended heavily on CIA surveillance, US drones, and American missile and bomber support. Similar US-backed coordination was seen in earlier strikes against Hezbollah and Hamas leaders in 2024 and 2025. Experts from the International Institute for Strategic Studies said the CIA provided real-time intelligence that enabled the precision attack.

Analyst Mamoun Abu Amer described the operations as evidence of Israel’s dependence on Washington rather than proof of Mossad’s autonomy. He said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the strikes to claim political victory by drawing the US into direct confrontation with Iran. Abu Amer also noted that Mossad’s success often stems from exploiting local collaborators and sociopolitical fractures within Iran and Lebanon, rather than purely technological superiority.

The report added that the joint strikes triggered environmental and humanitarian crises in Tehran and surrounding areas. Experts warned that despite their tactical success, these assassinations have failed to secure long-term stability, leaving the region mired in renewed conflict.