Explosive-laden drones targeted Erbil, a city in northern Iraq housing U.S. military personnel, on Wednesday following a series of U.S. airstrikes against targets in Iran. Local officials reported that the drones were intercepted or crashed, though the extent of any damage or casualties was not immediately confirmed. Concurrently, emergency sirens were activated in Bahrain, which serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
During the exchange, an armed group in Yemen identified as being aligned with Iranian interests stated its intention to block the Bab el-Mandeb strait to vessels linked to Saudi Arabia. This follows recent U.S. military actions in the region, which U.S. officials described as responses to previous attacks on American assets. The group stated its maritime actions are meant to impede regional shipping as part of the broader regional conflict.
In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution on Wednesday aimed at limiting further military action against Iran. The measure, which follows the escalation of hostilities, seeks to require congressional authorization for sustained combat operations. The resolution's passage comes as both the White House and the Iranian government trade statements regarding the responsibility for the recent increase in kinetic engagements in Iraq and the Persian Gulf.