Drones Strike Iraqi City Where U.S. Troops Are Based as Fighting With Iran Grows

Explosive drones targeted the city of Irbil in northern Iraq on Friday, where U.S. troops are based. Air raid sirens also went off in the country of Bahrain, hours after the U.S. military said it had finished its 13th night of air strikes against Iran. The attacks were the latest sign that the conflict between the United States and Iran is growing more dangerous and spreading to new places.

U.S.-led forces shot down five drones over Irbil before they could cause harm, according to security officials in northern Iraq. A journalist from the Associated Press heard at least seven explosions in the city and saw black smoke rising near a base at the city's airport. No injuries were reported, and flights at the airport continued as normal.

Irbil is the capital of Iraq's Kurdish region, which operates with some independence from the rest of the country. The United States has kept a small number of military advisors and other personnel there. In recent years, the U.S. had about 2,500 troops in Iraq to help with training and to fight the Islamic State group, but many have since left.

Iran's powerful military unit, the Revolutionary Guard, told people in nearby countries to stay away from bases used by American forces. The Guard claimed it set fire to storage sheds at a U.S. base in Kuwait and damaged a watchtower used by the U.S. Navy in Bahrain. Jordan said its military shot down seven Iranian missiles and six drones on Friday.

The fighting started after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Since then, the two sides have kept striking each other. The U.S. said its latest round of strikes was meant to weaken Iran's ability to threaten ships and sailors passing through a key waterway called the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage of water between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the most important waterways in the world because about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas travels through it. When Iran attacks ships there, it causes fuel prices to rise around the world and creates serious problems for the global economy.

A group called the Houthi rebels, who are allied with Iran, made things even worse this week. They attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, threatening to block another important route that ships use to carry oil. The Houthis said they had already forced 10 ships to turn back and warned they would keep attacking vessels linked to Saudi Arabia.

Because of all these attacks, the price of oil jumped above $100 a barrel before dipping slightly. Gas prices in the United States rose to an average of $4.11 per gallon, according to AAA. Higher fuel prices can make everyday items like food and goods more expensive for people everywhere.

President Trump has threatened strong military action against the Houthis if their attacks on ships continue. He also warned Iran, saying on social media that Iranian money held by the U.S. would be used to pay for boats damaged in the fighting. Iran's foreign minister pushed back, calling the idea dangerous and saying that if governments start seizing each other's money, no one's assets will be safe.

Efforts to stop the fighting have not been going well. Iraq's prime minister visited Tehran after meeting with President Trump in Washington. Pakistan's foreign minister also met with Iran's foreign minister to try to help find a solution. But Iran's foreign minister said he did not think more mediators were needed, and that the United States would have to change its position first.

One of the most serious problems created by this conflict is the danger faced by sailors at sea. The United Nations says at least 6,000 mariners are stuck on about 400 ships near the Strait of Hormuz. The U.N.'s top human rights official called for urgent action to help them, saying some sailors have been abandoned by their ship owners and are left without food, water, fuel, medical care, electricity, or any way to contact their families.