WEST ASIA CONFLICT INTENSIFIES AMID DRONE ATTACKS, DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS

By Wan Muhammad Aslah Wan Razali

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Escalating hostilities across West Asia on Sunday triggered military exchanges, diplomatic tensions, and humanitarian concerns, as air defence systems intercepted drones and governments accelerated evacuation efforts.

Saudi Arabia said its air defence systems intercepted 29 drones since Saturday night, including four in the Riyadh region, as attacks linked to the ongoing conflict intensified, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.

The Saudi Defence Ministry said 25 drones entering the country’s airspace overnight were destroyed, but did not disclose the origin of the drones or whether the attempted attacks caused any damage or casualties.

Similarly, Kuwait’s air defences shot down five hostile unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) early Sunday within areas under its jurisdiction, according to Bahrain News Agency (BNA).

Meanwhile, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has called on all parties to de-escalate and restore peace in southern Lebanon.

UNIFIL spokesperson Dany Ghafary said about 7,500 peacekeepers from 48 countries are currently operating south of the Litani River under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, monitoring continued exchanges of fire across the Blue Line since March 2.

He said the latest Israeli escalation has resulted in more than 800 deaths and over 1,900 injuries in Lebanon, while more than 800,000 people have been displaced and about 120,000 remain in shelters.

Ghafary also condemned attacks targeting UN peacekeepers and said the mission will continue carrying out its mandate until it ends on Dec 31, 2026.

Lebanon’s Health Ministry said 14 people, including four children, were killed and eight others injured in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, Anadolu reported.

The strikes targeted the Rahibat neighbourhood in Nebatieh as well as the Haret Saida area in Sidon and the town of Jezzine.

Seven people, including the four children, were killed in Nebatieh, while the remaining fatalities were recorded in Haret Saida and Katrani.

The ministry said the death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon since March 2 has reached 826 people which includes 106 children and 65 women.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that southern Lebanon risks becoming a barren land if Israeli attacks continue, the Palestine News and Information Agency (WAFA) reported.

Speaking in Beirut at the end of his visit, Guterres highlighted widespread destruction, and cautioned that Beirut’s southern suburbs could face further devastation.

During the visit, he launched an urgent humanitarian appeal worth US$308 million to assist people affected by the crisis, stressing that diplomacy and dialogue remain the only path to ending the conflict.

In a separate development, the White House said joint United States (US)-Israeli military operations against Iran have produced “massive results.”

The White House claimed that Tehran’s missile, naval, and drone capabilities had been significantly degraded, according to Anadolu.

The statement said the campaign known as “Operation Epic Fury” has struck more than 6,000 targets across Iran since Feb 28.

According to the White House, Iranian drone attacks have declined by about 95 per cent, while more than 90 Iranian naval vessels have been destroyed and the country’s ballistic missile capacity has been “functionally destroyed.”

Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and several countries hosting US military assets.

Amid the escalating tensions, US President Donald Trump called on countries that rely on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to contribute to securing the vital maritime corridor.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said such efforts should be a collective responsibility, adding that Washington would assist allied nations in protecting the route.

Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz since March 1 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran that killed more than 1,200 people, including Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The disruption has affected global oil exports and heightened volatility in energy markets.

France, however, said its aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle will remain in the Eastern Mediterranean and will not be deployed to the Strait of Hormuz, despite Washington’s call for international naval support, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.

The French Foreign Ministry said Paris maintains a defensive posture regarding developments in West Asia.

French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin had earlier said the government does not plan to send warships to the strategic waterway amid the escalating tensions between Iran, Israel, and the US.

Switzerland has also sought to maintain neutrality by rejecting two US requests for military aircraft overflights linked to the conflict, Anadolu reported.

However, three other flights were approved, including a maintenance mission and two transport aircraft operations. The government said humanitarian, medical, or routine flights unrelated to the conflict would generally be permitted.

Meanwhile, governments continue evacuating their citizens from affected areas across West Asia.

The Philippines brought home 342 of its nationals from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Sunday through a chartered flight operated by Philippine Airlines, Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported.

Of those returning, 328 were overseas Filipino workers who had travelled overland from cities including Al Khobar, Dammam, and Riyadh before boarding the evacuation flight to Manila.

Authorities said the returnees would receive assistance such as accommodation, medical checks, food, transportation, and financial support.

The widening crisis has also disrupted international sporting events.

Formula 1 has announced the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix scheduled for April due to security concerns linked to the conflict, Anadolu reported.

Formula One Group President and Chief Executive Officer Stefano Domenicali said the decision was taken in consultation with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and event promoters, adding that races would resume when conditions allow.

Meanwhile, MotoGP announced that the Qatar Grand Prix, originally scheduled for April, has been postponed to Nov 8 due to the ongoing conflict.

As a result, the Portuguese GP in Portimão will now take place on Nov 22 and the season finale in Valencia will move to Nov 29, while all other rounds of the 2026 MotoGP World Championship remain unaffected.

-- BERNAMA