Iran unleashes furious drone blitz after vowing US would ‘bitterly regret’ torpedoing its warship

Iran Launches Drone Assault in Response to US Torpedo Strike on Its Warship

Following the US submarine’s attack on an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean, Iran intensified its military operations, launching a coordinated wave of aerial strikes across the Middle East. The Islamic Republic’s retaliation targeted multiple Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, as tensions surged in the region.

Smoke plumes rose over Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, after cruise missiles struck the city on the sixth day of the conflict. In the UAE, explosions were reported near Yas Marina, the iconic Abu Dhabi F1 circuit, while alerts echoed across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah, urging people to seek shelter from the barrage of 131 drones and one ballistic missile.

Abu Dhabi suffered injuries from falling debris as air defense systems intercepted several drones, though the exact toll remained unclear. Meanwhile, in Bahrain, a major petroleum refinery burned brightly after being hit by an Iranian missile, capable of processing 267,000 barrels of oil daily. The attack also rattled Qatar and Kuwait, with explosions reported in both countries.

Azerbaijan became the latest casualty, as Iranian-made drones targeted the nation near its border with Iran. Four civilians were injured, including a fire at an airport terminal in Nakhchivan and a near-miss beside a school. The strikes followed the US-Israeli air campaign that killed Iran’s supreme leader and key officials, prompting Iranian military action against American assets and energy facilities.

On Wednesday, the US government released footage of an Iranian warship sinking in the Indian Ocean, confirming the sub had struck with a torpedo. This marked the first such enemy warship sinking by US submarine since World War II. At least 87 sailors were reported dead, with 70 missing and presumed drowned. Rescuers recovered 32 survivors and 87 bodies from the water.

“We confirmed that Iran has no role in the attack on the US embassy in Riyadh,” said Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, dismissing claims of involvement in the drone strike on the embassy.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, condemned the US action as an “atrocity at sea,” 2,000 miles from Iranian shores, and warned of impending consequences. In Israel, an Iranian missile strike in Beit Shemesh killed nine people, while the Israeli Air Force reported dropping over 5,000 munitions on Iran since the conflict began. Damage to Tehran’s infrastructure, including key buildings and a sports stadium, was visible in recent images.

Iran’s clerical leadership added a fiery tone, with Ayatollah Abdollah Javadi Amoli using state media to call for “the shedding of Zionist blood, the shedding of Trump’s blood.” The exchange intensified after the US confirmed the sinking of the Iranian vessel Iris Dena, which had been torpedoed by a US submarine on Tuesday night.