Tehran confirmed that it targeted US-linked sites in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The attacks were reported by Fars News Agency, which said several locations connected to American forces were hit.
The powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East had been struck “by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles”. It warned, “This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,” adding that all US assets in the region are now legitimate targets.
In Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, at least one person was killed after missiles fired from Iran were intercepted. In Bahrain, authorities said a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet. The government described it as a “treacherous attack” and “a blatant violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and security”.
Explosions were also heard in Kuwait, where the US military’s Central Command is based. In Qatar, the Defense Ministry said it “thwarted” multiple attacks. “The Ministry of Defense confirms that the threat was dealt with immediately upon detection, in accordance with the pre-approved security plan, and that all missiles were intercepted before reaching Qatari territory,” it stated.
Read more: Iran strikes back after US-Israel attack
Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE quickly closed their airspaces as a safety measure. According to Al Jazeera, loud explosions echoed across Doha, with many believed to be Patriot defense systems intercepting incoming missiles.
Among the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, only Oman has not been hit so far. Oman has long acted as a mediator between Iran and the US. Just hours before the attacks, Oman’s foreign minister had expressed hope that peace was “within reach” after progress in indirect talks. But the sudden military strikes have now pushed diplomacy aside.
This conflict is growing fast. Each side says it is defending itself. But more attacks could pull the whole Gulf into war. Airspace closures and missile strikes show how serious the situation has become. If talks do not restart, tensions may rise even more.
