Iran projectile strikes road outside Al Minhad Air Base, UAE — Australian soldiers stationed there, fire damages facilities; no casualties

An Iranian projectile struck a road just outside Al Minhad Air Base in Dubai, UAE on Tuesday evening, March 17. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the attack, stating the projectile hit at approximately 9:15am AEDT on Wednesday (22:15 UTC Tuesday) and that all Australian defence personnel were safe. Albanese said the strike caused a fire that damaged medical and accommodation facilities at or near the base. ABC Australia reported minor damage to buildings, with no Australian personnel injured. The Guardian described the fire as affecting medical and accommodation facilities, suggesting the projectile or its debris landed in a support area of the base perimeter. Al Minhad Air Base (Al Minhad Air Base, ICAO: OMDM) sits south of Dubai and serves as the primary Australian military hub in the Middle East, hosting the Australian Defence Force Joint Task Force 633. The base also hosts coalition personnel from multiple allied nations. The strike is notable as the first confirmed attack on a facility housing Australian military personnel, drawing Albanese into a direct public statement about Australian forces being targeted. It adds to the pattern of Iran striking Gulf bases hosting US-aligned coalition forces — UAE has been targeted repeatedly throughout the conflict, with the UAE Defence Ministry reporting over 2,000 Iranian drones and missiles fired at the country since the war began.