Multiple explosions were reported across several Gulf countries on Saturday morning after Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks in response to coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory, escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Reports indicate that Iran targeted locations hosting United States military assets in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, prompting widespread security alerts and airspace closures across the region.
Authorities in Bahrain confirmed that a facility linked to the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama was struck in what officials described as a missile attack. The country’s National Communication Centre said further details would be released following ongoing assessments. Journalists on the ground reported hearing additional explosions in the capital shortly after the announcement.
In Qatar, officials said two Iranian missiles were intercepted over the country’s airspace. Explosions were also heard across Doha, according to eyewitness accounts and international media reports.
Similar incidents were reported in Kuwait, where air raid sirens were activated following loud blasts heard across parts of the country amid heightened regional alert levels.
The escalation follows joint US and Israeli strikes earlier on Saturday targeting sites in Tehran and other areas of Iran. Israeli authorities described the operation as a pre-emptive action against perceived security threats, while US President Donald Trump said the strikes were intended to neutralise imminent dangers posed by Iran to American forces and allies.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed it had launched what it called a “first wave” of missile and drone attacks against Israel and US-linked targets in retaliation. Iranian state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian remained safe, while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been moved to a secure, undisclosed location as a precaution.
Airspace closures quickly spread across the region. Iran, Israel, and Iraq shut their skies to civilian traffic, while Gulf nations including Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE imposed similar restrictions after reports of incoming projectiles and explosions. The measures forced airlines to suspend or reroute hundreds of international flights, disrupting major air corridors between Europe and Asia.
In Israel, warning sirens sounded across northern and central regions as missiles were launched toward Israeli territory. Local media reported at least one impact in northern Israel, though casualty details were not immediately available.
Regional governments have issued travel advisories amid fears of further escalation. Pakistan’s Foreign Office urged its citizens in Iran to exercise caution, citing growing instability and security risks.
The latest developments mark one of the most significant military confrontations between Iran, Israel, and the United States in recent years, raising concerns that the conflict could expand into a broader regional war involving multiple Middle Eastern states.
International observers continue to call for restraint as diplomatic efforts struggle to keep pace with rapidly unfolding military actions across the region.
