Iran has targeted United States forces across multiple Gulf countries, including Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, sharply escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Bahrain confirmed that the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet was hit in a missile attack, raising concerns over the security of key American military assets in the region, reports Al Jazeera.
In Qatar, the Defence Ministry said an Iranian missile was intercepted by the Patriot air defence system, preventing damage. Following the developments, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates announced the closure of their airspace as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, a loud explosion was reported in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, according to Reuters. Authorities in the UAE have not immediately disclosed details on the cause of the explosion.
Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed it had launched missiles and drones towards Israel in response to recent US-Israeli attacks, signalling a widening of the conflict with potential regional and global implications.