Four drones launched from Iran struck Basra International Airport and two oil facilities in southern Iraq, a senior Iraqi security official told the French news agency AFP on March 6, 2026. ‘One drone crashed into the cargo terminal at Basra Airport,’ the official said, adding that two others hit installations operated by a U.S. company at the Burjisia oil complex in Basra, while a fourth struck the Rumaila oil field—home to operations run by British energy giant BP.
Evacuation Orders Issued Amid Escalation
French energy major TotalEnergies, which operates projects in Basra, ordered its expatriate staff to urgently evacuate its worksites in the city on Thursday, March 5, according to Iraqi oil sector sources. The move follows the Iranian drone attacks, which came amid escalating regional tensions after the U.S. and Israel launched a military campaign against Tehran.
TotalEnergies declined to comment on the evacuation order. Earlier, on Tuesday, March 3, the company had announced plans to repatriate employees’ families from the area.
War Enters Seventh Day
The conflict has now entered its seventh day, with Gulf states and other neighboring regions reporting widespread alarm and heightened security measures.