What Happened: Iran launched a wave of missile and drone strikes across the Gulf, striking or targeting locations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other states.
Key Points: Saudi forces and Gulf partners reported multiple interceptions, and the WSJ said five US refuelling planes were damaged at a Saudi base. Kuwait and the UAE reported shoot-downs and debris-related incidents; the IRGC said US sites in the UAE are legitimate targets after US strikes on Iranian islands.
Iran has stepped up a campaign of missile and drone strikes across the Gulf region in apparent retaliation linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. Targets reported late Friday and into early Saturday included locations in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said its forces intercepted and destroyed multiple drones over the eastern and northern parts of the country and shot down a ballistic missile aimed at the al-Kharj governorate. The ministry released several statements describing the interceptions as part of defensive operations.
The Wall Street Journal reported that five US Air Force refuelling aircraft were damaged while on the ground at a Saudi airbase in recent days. The WSJ cited unnamed US officials who attributed the damage to an Iranian attack; US Central Command (CENTCOM) declined to comment on the report.
Qatar’s Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior reported intercepted missile strikes and temporary evacuation measures for residents in specific, notified areas. Authorities said alternative accommodations were provided for those affected while the security threat remained under assessment. Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Doha described a large explosion heard over the city at about 01:30 local time and said some neighbourhoods received evacuation orders roughly an hour before the strike.
The Kuwait National Guard reported it shot down a drone in a secured area, saying the action aimed to protect vital sites and counter potential threats. In the UAE’s Fujairah emirate, debris from an intercepted object sparked a fire at a major bunkering hub; authorities said Civil Defence teams contained the blaze and that no injuries were reported. Dubai officials also said falling debris struck a building facade in the city centre after an attack was intercepted; no injuries or fires were reported and the situation was contained.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said US interests in the UAE—including ports, docks and military sites—are legitimate targets following US strikes on Iranian islands, and urged residents to avoid those locations to reduce risk to civilians. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said US forces struck "every military target" on Iran’s Kharg Island export hub and asserted that oil infrastructure was not hit.
Regional officials and international media outlets continue to monitor the situation closely. Many details remain unconfirmed independently; official statements and media reports sometimes differ on timing and scope of individual strikes.
Note: Information in this article is based on official statements from governments, reporting by The Wall Street Journal and live reporting from regional media. Some accounts cite unnamed sources.
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