6 US troops killed, 70 missiles intercepted as Israel strikes Tehran & Beirut; US Embassy in Riyadh hit
Babushahi Bureau
Tel Aviv, March 3, 2026: Tensions across West Asia escalated sharply on Tuesday as Israel carried out targeted strikes in Tehran and Beirut, while a drone attack hit the United States Embassy in Riyadh, further widening a rapidly intensifying regional conflict.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it is conducting simultaneous targeted strikes against military sites in Tehran and Beirut. According to regional media reports, the strikes in Lebanon hit Beirut’s Haret Hreik area, a known stronghold of armed factions.
The crisis deepened after the US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by a drone. In a separate development, two additional American soldiers were reported killed in Operation Epic Fury, taking the total US death toll to six.
Following the embassy attack, the United States cancelled all consular services in Saudi Arabia. The US Embassy in Iraq also ordered non-emergency government personnel to leave the country and prohibited the use of Baghdad airport, citing security concerns.
The conflict has spilled into Gulf states amid retaliatory exchanges between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Bahrain’s Ambassador to the US, Abdulla bin Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa, stated that Bahrain’s air defences intercepted 70 Iranian ballistic missiles and 59 drones aimed at the country.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that US forces carried out sustained operations targeting key Iranian military infrastructure, including facilities linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Iran, however, claimed it launched a “massive missile and drone” assault on a US air base in Bahrain. The IRGC said 20 drones and three missiles struck the Sheikh Isa Air Base, alleging that the main command building was destroyed and fuel tanks were set ablaze.
Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, declared that Tehran would continue to defend itself as long as what he termed “US-Israeli aggression” persists.
In response to the joint American-Israeli strikes, Iran reportedly launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting US assets and allied nations across the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, significantly expanding the scope of hostilities.
With Gulf nations increasingly drawn into the confrontation, global leaders and international organisations have urged immediate de-escalation. However, active military operations continue across multiple fronts, raising fears of a broader regional war and escalating risks to civilians and expatriate communities.