Iran strikes back after US bombs Iranian island; Blasts heard over Jerusalem, US Embassy attacked in Baghdad
Explosions rocked Jerusalem, and a missile hit the US Embassy in Baghdad, while an Iranian drone struck an oil facility in the UAE. These incidents mark Iran's retaliation after US-Israeli strikes on an oil-critical Iranian island, escalating the Middle East conflict into its third week.
The United States conducted airstrikes on Iran's Kharg Island, the country's primary oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf, on March 13, 2026. President Donald Trump announced the operation, describing it as "one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East." The strikes targeted only military installations on the island, including defenses and assets, while deliberately sparing oil terminals, pipelines, and storage facilities that handle about 90% of Iran's crude exports. The operation was executed by U.S. Central Command using B-2 stealth bombers.
In retaliation for the Kharg Island strikes, Iran launched coordinated attacks across the Middle East. On March 13-14, 2026, a missile struck a helipad inside the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, with smoke observed rising from the site but no confirmed injuries reported. Iraqi security officials confirmed the attack to Reuters and Associated Press. The U.S. Embassy had issued a Level 4 security alert hours earlier, warning of threats from Iran and allied militias against U.S. interests.
Simultaneously, on March 12, 2026, sirens sounded across central Israel including near Jerusalem during a coordinated Hezbollah and Iranian attack that sent millions into shelters. Over 100 rockets from Lebanon targeted northern Israel, with Iranian projectiles triggering alerts in the Jerusalem area. Direct hits in the Upper Galilee injured five people, mostly from shock and debris. This was part of broader Iranian retaliation efforts.
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, when Israel and the United States launched surprise airstrikes on multiple sites across Iran under Operation Roaring Lion, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other top officials. Iran has since established naval control over the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to close this critical oil chokepoint. The U.S. has destroyed at least 30 Iranian mine-laying vessels in the region since the war began.
President Trump claimed Iran is "totally defeated" but offered no timeline for resolution, while Iranian officials continue advocating Strait of Hormuz closure as leverage. The conflict shows no end in sight, with ongoing attacks by Iran-backed groups targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and shipping in the region. No coverage from Philippine news sources was found in available reports, with all information coming from international outlets like Reuters, Associated Press, and CBS News.
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