Cyprus on the Line of Tension: Day 12 of the War in Iran Changes Regional Balance of Power

March 11 marked the twelfth day of the war surrounding Iran, and the events of this day showed that the conflict is rapidly moving beyond a local confrontation. Strikes on infrastructure, drone attacks, an energy crisis, and military preparations in Cyprus are turning the war into a factor of global instability.

Escalation at Sea and in the Persian Gulf

One of the most alarming episodes of the day was the attacks on civilian vessels. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, two ships were fired upon almost simultaneously.

• The first was hit 11 nautical miles off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz; the crew has been evacuated.
• The second vessel was attacked 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

It later emerged that Iranian drones struck near Dubai International Airport, injuring four people. A direct drone strike was also recorded on fuel tanks in Oman, intensifying fears regarding the security of energy supplies.

According to the analytical firm Kpler, despite the war, Iran is exporting even more oil through the Strait of Hormuz than before the start of the American operation.

Oil Shock and Global Market Reaction

The rising tension immediately affected the energy sector.

• Germany announced a partial release of strategic oil reserves.
• Japan announced the release of private reserves for 15 days and state reserves for a month.
• The International Energy Agency decided to release 400 million barrels of oil.
• US President Donald Trump also ordered the allocation of 172 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

According to the Associated Press, the first week of the war has already cost the US $11.3 billion.

Strikes, Errors, and Cyberwarfare

The military situation remains extremely tense.

A preliminary investigation showed that an American Tomahawk missile mistook a girls' school in Minab for an Iranian naval base. The US and Israel also launched strikes against the pro-Iranian group Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq in Mosul.

Meanwhile, Iran is expanding the war into cyberspace: hackers linked to Tehran claimed an attack on the American medical company Stryker. Western intelligence asserts that Russia is consulting Iran on the use of kamikaze drones — a tactic developed during the SMO in Ukraine.

Missile Salvos in the Middle East

The situation was sharply complicated by the activation of Hezbollah. The group fired more than 100 rockets at Israel in a single volley — the largest since the start of the war. Some attacks were conducted jointly with Iranian forces.

Israel responded with a strike on the Ramlet al-Baida area in Beirut. According to Lebanese media, ten civilians were killed.

Diplomatic Ruptures and Evacuations

In the diplomatic sphere, a rapid cooling of relations is observed:

• Spain recalled its ambassador from Israel.
• Switzerland closed its embassy in Tehran but continues mediation between Tehran and Washington.
• Major companies — Deloitte, PwC, and Citigroup — began evacuating their offices in Dubai following threats from Iran.

Cyprus Strengthens Defense

Amid the expanding conflict, tension is also felt in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Italian frigate Federico Martinengo arrived in the Cyprus area to strengthen the island's defense after a strike hit it during the war.

The ship with 160 Italian Navy personnel operates as part of international coordination with:

• Spain, France, and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, in the northern part of the island under Turkish control, Turkish HİSAR air defense systems have been deployed. Previously, Bayraktar TB2, Akıncı drones, and F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters were already stationed there.

According to Turkish sources, there are over 40,000 Turkish troops in Northern Cyprus, and the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced its readiness to take additional security measures.

A Region on the Brink of Conflict Expansion

By the twelfth day of the war, it is becoming clear: the conflict surrounding Iran has ceased to be exclusively Middle Eastern. It affects global energy markets, international shipping, and the security of Mediterranean countries.

The appearance of warships off the coast of Cyprus is just one piece of evidence that the geography of the war is gradually expanding, involving more states and turning the region into one of the main points of global tension.