Iran launches retaliatory strikes after US-Israel attack, Gulf region rocked by explosions
Iran targets US bases in Bahrain, Qata, Kuwait and UAE
Tehran: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Saturday that they had launched a first wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks against Israel and U.S. interests in the region, sharply escalating tensions across the Middle East.
An Iranian official told Reuters that all U.S. bases and interests in the region were “within Iran’s reach,” warning that further action could follow. The strikes came after Israel and the United States carried out coordinated attacks on Iranian targets earlier in the day.
Explosions were reported in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Qatar, with several Gulf states activating their air defence systems. Bahrain confirmed that the service centre of the U.S. Fifth Fleet had been subjected to a missile attack. Witnesses described thick grey smoke rising near the coastline as warning sirens echoed across the island kingdom.
In Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, multiple loud explosions were heard, according to residents and Reuters correspondents. One witness said five rapid blasts caused windows near the Corniche waterfront to shake. Authorities later confirmed that one person of Asian nationality was killed after falling shrapnel struck a residential area. The Defence Ministry said debris caused material damage but added that the security situation remained under control.
The UAE condemned the strike as a “blatant” and “cowardly” act and a dangerous escalation that threatened civilian safety and regional stability. It described the attack as a violation of sovereignty and international law and reserved its “full right to respond” to protect national interests. Officials urged residents to rely on official sources and avoid spreading rumours.
Qatar said its air defence systems intercepted all missiles targeting the country. A Qatari official told AFP that U.S.-made Patriot interceptors successfully downed an Iranian missile as sirens sounded nationwide. Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the region.
Saudi Arabia strongly condemned what it called Iranian aggression and expressed full solidarity with the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, warning of serious consequences if violations of state sovereignty continued.
Earlier on Saturday, Israel and the United States launched joint strikes on Iran, targeting what U.S. officials described as military sites only. According to Reuters, U.S. strikes were conducted by air and sea. In Israel, air raid sirens sounded across Jerusalem and explosions were reported after the military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had carried out a pre-emptive attack to remove threats against the country. Israeli defence officials stated the operation had been planned months in advance and coordinated closely with Washington. They added that several days of further strikes were planned.
Explosions were also reported across Iran, including in Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and Tabriz, according to state media. Blasts were heard near Kharg Island, through which the majority of Iran’s crude oil exports pass via the Strait of Hormuz. A source told Reuters that Iranian officials were the primary targets of the first wave of U.S.-Israeli strikes.
An Iranian official said Tehran was preparing a “crushing” response. State media reported mobile phone disruptions in parts of Tehran and weakened internet connectivity, while monitoring group Netblocks indicated that Iran was experiencing a near-total media blackout.
Officials told Reuters that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been transferred to a secure location. Mehr news agency reported that Iran’s President was safe. The Israeli military said its forces were deployed and ready for operations across all sectors and that air force strikes would continue as needed.
The latest escalation follows a 12-day air war between Israel and Iran in June and comes amid longstanding tensions over Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Diplomatic hopes for de-escalation now appear increasingly uncertain as the region faces one of its most serious confrontations in recent years.