Iran launches missile, drone attacks across Gulf after fresh U.S. strikes
DOHA: Iran launched coordinated missile and drone attacks across several Gulf countries early Sunday, targeting Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, hours after the United States carried out a new round of airstrikes inside Iran in retaliation for an attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar said its air defense systems intercepted multiple ballistic missiles aimed at the country, including projectiles targeting Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military installation in the Middle East. There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
Residents in Doha reported hearing multiple explosions as air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles in two waves over nearly two hours. Emergency alerts were issued across the country, urging people to remain indoors, avoid windows and follow official safety instructions.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said its armed forces were continuing to intercept ballistic missiles targeting the country, while the Interior Ministry raised the national security threat level and advised residents to remain in secure locations.
The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems engaged Iranian missiles and drones, adding that explosions heard in several areas were caused by successful interceptions. Authorities urged residents to remain sheltered until the threat had passed.
Kuwait’s military said it was engaging what it described as “hostile aerial targets,” while Bahrain announced it had activated its air defense systems in response to the attacks.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, claiming it destroyed a command-and-control center and an aircraft maintenance facility. Qatari authorities rejected that claim, saying all missiles aimed at the base were intercepted before reaching their targets.
The Revolutionary Guard also claimed attacks on Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan and the Port of Duqm in Oman, alleging both facilities were being used by U.S. forces. Jordan and Oman had not immediately commented on the claims.
The attacks followed fresh U.S. airstrikes late Saturday. U.S. Central Command said American forces struck about 140 targets in southern Iran in response to an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz that set the vessel ablaze and forced its crew to abandon ship. One sailor was reported missing.
The U.S. military said the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian vessels transiting the strategic waterway.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operation in a social media post, saying, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.”
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Tehran would continue responding to U.S. military action, writing on social media that “the era of one-sided deals is over.”
Iran has repeatedly warned that any further U.S. strikes would prompt attacks on American military assets across the Gulf, raising fears of a broader regional conflict involving U.S. forces and regional allies.
The latest exchange marked one of the most significant military escalations in the Gulf in recent months, with several countries maintaining heightened security measures as tensions continue to rise.