Gulf states reported fresh missile and drone strikes on Sunday as Iran signalled it may continue attacks despite mixed statements from Tehran. Kuwait said fuel tanks at its international airport were hit and cut crude output as a precaution. Dubai briefly closed its main airport after an interception; Gulf defence ministries reported hundreds of missiles and more than 1,300 drones detected since Feb. 28. Several sites sustained damage and there were reports of deaths and injuries, though some details remain unclear.
Gulf Under Fire: Kuwait Airport Hit, Saudi Sites Targeted As Iran Intensifies Drone and Missile Strikes
Footage authenticated by AFP recorded the sound of a drone then a loud explosion and plumes of smoke (-)(-/UGC/AFP)
Gulf states reported fresh missile and drone attacks on Sunday as Iran vowed to continue strikes against neighbouring countries, marking a new wave of escalation in a conflict that has entered its second week.
Kuwait said fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport were struck in a drone attack. The official Kuwait News Agency reported the resulting fire was brought under control and there were no significant injuries. Kuwait’s national oil company announced a precautionary cut in crude production. The military described the strike as a direct targeting of vital infrastructure, and the interior ministry said two border guards "were martyred" while on duty, though it was unclear whether their deaths were the direct result of Iranian strikes.
The United Arab Emirates reported multiple incoming threats and temporarily closed Dubai’s main international airport after an unidentified object was intercepted nearby. Authorities said debris from an aerial interception killed a Pakistani national and caused localized fires; Emirates airline briefly announced a suspension of Dubai flights before resuming operations. The UAE defence ministry reported that 221 ballistic missiles and more than 1,300 drones had been detected since the conflict began on February 28.
Qatar said it was targeted the previous day by 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran, but that most were intercepted and caused no casualties. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting and destroying multiple drones and missiles, including three ballistic missiles heading toward Prince Sultan Air Base — which hosts US personnel — and dozens of drones over the Shaybah oil field.
Authorities across the Gulf described material damage to civilian sites from falling debris and interception operations. Iranian statements were mixed: the president apologised to Gulf states and said they would not be targeted unless strikes originated from their territory, while Iran’s judiciary chief later vowed strikes would continue against sites considered "at the disposal of the enemy."
UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a rare televised address that the Emirates were in "a period of war" but would "emerge stronger."
The attacks and air-defence operations have raised regional tensions and disrupted travel and energy infrastructure, underscoring wider international concern about the potential for further escalation and the risk to civilians and commercial routes in the Gulf.
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