The war is rapidly spreading in the Middle East and beginning to affect almost every country in the region – either directly with missiles and drones or through collateral effects.
Associated Press has reviewed, country by country, the damages, casualties, and blockades so far: closed airspaces, affected embassies and infrastructures, blocked strategic routes.
Follow LIVE the war in the Middle East
Foreign governments have been urging their citizens for a few days to leave the countries in the Middle East on any available commercial flight, due to the closure of the airspace in the Gulf, the impossibility of cruise ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, and the cancellation of flights by major airlines.
The US State Department announces evacuations of non-essential personnel and families from six countries and recommends the departure of citizens from at least 12 states. Russia, Germany, India, as well as Romania, have also organized repatriation flights.
1. Iran
- Deaths: at least 1,230, according to the official Irna news agency. The number of civilian casualties is unknown.
- Major incident: over 160 deaths after a strike on a primary school in Minab. Israel says it was not involved. The Pentagon chief announces an investigation but states that the US would not deliberately target a school.
- Damages: US-Israel strikes on nuclear infrastructure, missile launchers, government buildings in Tehran, and leadership complexes. AP notes that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other high-ranking military officials were killed. State television quotes Iranians saying their homes were damaged.
- Airspace: closed.
2. Israel and the Palestinian Territories
- Deaths: 11 civilians, according to Israeli authorities (including three brothers aged 16, 15, and 13, a Filipino caregiver, a mother of three, a volunteer paramedic).
- Major incident: attack in Beit Shemesh, resulting in 9 deaths.
- Damages: strikes in several locations (synagogue and public shelter in Beit Shemesh, apartment building in Tel Aviv, road in Jerusalem). Israeli police say a rocket fell near the Old City. Damage at military bases and sensitive locations is unknown; the army does not disclose the information.
- Airspace: closed.
3. Lebanon
- Deaths and injuries: 72 deaths (including 7 children) and 437 injuries, according to the Ministry of Health. AP notes deaths among Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Jihad officials.
- Incidents: six deaths in a residential complex in Baalbeck. Other strikes in Aramoun and Saadiyat (resulting in deaths and injuries).
- Impact: at least 84,000 displaced persons. Tensions due to Syrian forces concentration at the border. Israel declares hitting "Hezbollah command centers and weapons depots" and sends ground troops to southern border areas. Hezbollah says it launched drones towards an Israeli airbase. The US Embassy closes to the public.
- Airspace: not completely closed, but many flights are canceled.
4. Kuwait
- Deaths: at least 8. Two civilian deaths announced so far (a migrant worker and an 11-year-old girl).
- Major incident: 6 US soldiers killed at a civilian operations center, over 16 km from the main base (according to satellite images and a US official).
- Impact: the US Embassy compound was hit and closed to the public. AP reports a satellite image showing the main building destroyed (Port Shuaiba).
- Airspace: closed.
5. United Arab Emirates
- Victims: 3 civilians killed (foreign workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan) and at least 68 injured.
- Impact: an Iranian drone strikes a parking lot near the US consulate in Dubai (small fire, according to Marco Rubio). The Defense Ministry reports over 800 drones detected, 57 hitting the ground. Out of 186 ballistic missiles detected, one hit the territory. All 8 cruise missiles launched by Iran were intercepted.
- Effects in Dubai: damage at the international airport and, according to CENTCOM, at coastal hotels. Amazon says two data centers were targeted.
- Airspace: partially closed.
6. Bahrain
- Victims: an Asian worker killed, two injured.
- Impact: Amazon says a drone hit near one of its data centers.
- Airspace: closed.
7. Syria
- Victims/impact: Several people, including children, suffered minor injuries in the rural area near Damascus after rocket debris fell. Other fragments from Iranian projectiles launched towards Israel fell in southern Syria, causing no additional casualties or material damage, according to the state agency SANA.
- Airspace: closed.
8. Iraq
- Victims: strikes on Iran-aligned groups have killed militia members, but the exact number of casualties is unknown.
- Impact: interceptions of drones and missiles over the city of Erbil. Drones targeted areas around the US consulate without direct hits. Debris caused fires and damage. Pro-Iran militias claim attacks. Several protesters tried to storm the US Embassy in Baghdad. The Ministry of Oil halts production at a key oil field due to disruptions in the Hormuz.
- Airspace: closed.
9. Jordan
- Impact: 5 injured after shrapnel falls following the interception of Iranian projectiles.
- Airspace: open, but many flights are canceled.
10. Saudi Arabia
- Impact: 9 drones intercepted and destroyed. Iran strikes the US Embassy in Riyadh with two drones (limited fire, minor damage). Ras Tanura refinery attacked with drones, but defense shoots them down. The refinery stops production of over half a million barrels/day.
- Airspace: partially closed in the border area with Iraq and the Persian Gulf.
11. Egypt
- Economic impact: shipping companies redirect fleets away from the Suez Canal, hitting a major source of revenue for Egypt.
- Airspace: commercial flights depart, with cancellations. Many countries recommend transit through Taba and Sharm el-Sheikh, not through Cairo.
12. Qatar
- Impact: Iran strikes energy facilities. Two ballistic missiles launched, one hits Al-Udeid Base, with no casualties.
- Airspace: closed.
13. Oman
- Victims: an Indian sailor killed after a bomb-laden naval drone strikes a tanker (flagged Marshall Islands). 4 other sailors injured in an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. It's unclear who carried out the attacks.
- Impact: a ship hit by a projectile in the Gulf of Oman (British army agency), no casualties. Drone attacks targeted ports of Salalah and Duqm. Muscat Airport becomes a base for evacuations.
- Airspace: open, but many flights are canceled.
14. Cyprus
- Impact: British airbase attacked, no casualties.
15. Turkey
- Impact: NATO systems intercept an Iranian ballistic missile. The missile was detected after crossing Iraqi and Syrian airspace. Debris fell in the Hatay province, with no casualties.
Sri Lanka
- Impact: An American submarine sinks the Iranian ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean, outside territorial waters. The Sri Lankan Navy rescues 32 people and recovers 87 bodies. There were 180 people on board. Sri Lanka had received a distress signal. The US releases a video of the torpedo attack and the underwater explosion that breaks the ship.
G.P.