Iran's Drone Offensive During the March Military Campaign
Summary
In retaliation for Israeli and American airstrikes, Iran launched a massive drone and missile campaign against Arab Persian Gulf nations beginning in early March, with the UAE bearing the brunt of the assault, receiving 1,688 total systems — including 1,422 drones and 246 missiles — in just the first eight days. Iran deliberately extended its attacks to port facilities in Oman and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to disrupt oil exports and cargo deliveries to Gulf States, with daily drone strikes averaging approximately 250 per day after March 1st. The primary drone models deployed were the Shahed-136, Shahed-107, and Shahed-238, weapons systems that Iran has been developing and exporting for years, including to Russia for use against Ukraine since 2022. Israel and the United States continued targeting Iranian drone launch sites and remaining Iranian warships in the Gulf, though the Strait of Hormuz had not yet been reopened to free commercial passage. This campaign underscored Iran's long-established role as a pioneer in drone warfare, with its technology now deeply embedded in multiple global conflicts.
Key Takeaways
- 1. The UAE suffered the largest single-state drone and missile attack in this campaign, with nearly 1,700 systems deployed against it in just one week
- 2. Iran strategically targeted the Strait of Hormuz to choke off oil exports and commercial shipping critical to Gulf economies
- 3. Iran has been a long-standing supplier of Shahed drones to Russia, with approximately 50,000 units used against Ukraine since 2022
- 4. Gulf Arab states have refrained from direct military retaliation against Iran despite the heavy attacks on their territory
- 5. Ukraine's drone interception methods proved highly effective, neutralizing roughly 90% of incoming Geran drones during 2025