Attacks in Hargeisa and an oil port in the Emirates/ Iran: Oil exports continue

2026-03-14 19:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Attacks in Hargeisa and an oil port in the Emirates/ Iran: Oil exports

Drone and missile attacks hit targets in Baghdad and the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, as the war between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition continues to spread tensions across the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Tehran said oil exports from the main terminal on Harg Island are continuing despite US attacks there.

A drone struck the US Embassy compound in Baghdad early Saturday morning, Iraqi security officials said. At the same time, smoke was seen rising from the Emirati port of Fujairah after debris from a downed drone caused a fire near energy facilities.

Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that crude oil exports from Harg Island - Iran's main oil terminal - are continuing regularly, despite US airstrikes.

The official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted a senior official as saying that oil exports were continuing uninterrupted from this strategic terminal on the island, despite claims by US President Donald Trump that US forces had "completely destroyed" Iranian military targets there.

The attack on Harg Island marks a major development in the conflict that began on February 28, following widespread US-Israeli attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities.

Trump declared on the Truth Social platform that US forces had carried out "one of the most powerful bombings in the history of the Middle East", striking military installations on the island while avoiding vital oil export terminals.

US Central Command later said its forces had struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Harg Island, while also protecting oil infrastructure.

Harg Island processes about 90 percent of Iran's crude oil exports, making it one of the most strategic and sensitive energy facilities in the region.

Trump warned that the US would no longer hold back if Iran interfered with shipping through the nearby Strait of Hormuz. He also said the US Navy would soon begin escorting ships passing through the strait.

This narrow waterway usually transports about a fifth of the world's oil supplies by sea, but tanker traffic has almost completely stopped since the outbreak of the conflict.

Attacks across the Middle East
Despite facing the greater military power of the US and Israel, Iran has continued retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, targeting energy facilities and military installations, according to regional officials.

Smoke was seen rising from Fujairah port on March 14 after debris from a downed drone caused a fire near power installations.

Authorities said civil defense teams were working to bring the fire under control.

Some oil loading operations at the port, one of the largest fuel supply hubs for ships outside the Strait of Hormuz, were suspended after the incident.

The Iranian military had earlier warned residents in the United Arab Emirates to stay away from areas near the port, saying they could become targets.

Since the start of the war, Iranian attacks have hit energy installations across the Persian Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Hamas calls for restraint

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas made a rare call urging Iran not to attack neighboring Gulf states, while supporting what it called Tehran's right to defend itself against Israel and the United States.

"While we confirm the right of the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to this aggression with all possible means in accordance with international norms and laws, the movement calls on its brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighboring countries," Hamas said in a statement.

Hamas - designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union - also called on the international community to "work towards an immediate halt" to the ongoing war.

Missile attacks across the region

The conflict continues to spread beyond national borders.

A drone struck the US Embassy compound in Baghdad on Saturday, according to Iraqi security officials, marking the second attack on the diplomatic mission since the start of the war.

Security officials said the drone hit a helicopter pad inside the fortified embassy compound, although there were no immediate reports of casualties.

Explosions also rocked several other areas of Baghdad, with attacks targeting the pro-Iranian Kataeb Hezbollah group, killing two members, including a "key figure", according to security sources.

It is not clear who carried out these attacks.

Qatar said on Saturday it had intercepted two Iranian missiles over the capital Doha, after explosions were heard in the city.

Turkey announced that NATO defenses had intercepted a ballistic missile launched by Iran that had temporarily entered Turkish airspace.

Saudi Arabia reported that it had shot down dozens of drones launched towards the kingdom on March 13. /REL