Iran Retaliatory Attacks Hit UAE and Gulf States

At least one person was killed and 11 others injured after Iran launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, targeting airports and military-linked locations in the Gulf region following ongoing military action involving the United States and Israel.

UAE Airports Targeted

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said a drone targeting Zayed International Airport was intercepted, but falling debris killed one person and injured seven others.

At Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest airport for international passengers, an incident caused damage and injured four staff members. The emirate’s media office also reported damage to parts of the city, including the Burj Al Arab hotel.

Thousands of flights to and from the region were suspended, causing one of the biggest disruptions to global travel since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Attacks Spread Across the Gulf

Explosions were reported for a second day in Doha, Dubai and Manama, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

Iran reportedly used ballistic missiles and drones to strike US-linked assets and allied countries across the Gulf after its supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a joint US-Israeli air offensive launched on Saturday.

Several countries hosting US military bases — including Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait — said their defence systems intercepted incoming missiles. However, falling debris caused damage in several locations.

In Dubai, debris from an aerial interception caused a fire at Jebel Ali Port, one of the region’s busiest ports.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said a drone damaged its airport, while Oman reported that two drones struck the Duqm commercial port, injuring one worker.

Wider Military Escalation

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama. Witnesses reported heavy smoke rising near the base.

Regional defence authorities also reported missile interceptions over Amman, while a drone crash was reported near Erbil International Airport in northern Iraq.

Iran said it fired hundreds of missiles and drones at regional targets. Qatari officials reported injuries after some projectiles bypassed defence systems.

Political and Military Responses

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing of Khamenei and declared national mourning. Iran also formed an interim leadership council following the supreme leader’s death.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that the United States and Israel would “pay the price” for the attacks.

Former US President Donald Trump warned Iran against further escalation, saying Washington would respond with overwhelming force if US interests were targeted.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military said it struck more than 30 targets in western and central Iran, including air defence systems and missile facilities, and signalled that operations would continue.

Rising Humanitarian Concerns

Iranian authorities said at least 201 people had been killed in recent attacks, including dozens of civilians in strikes on a school in the southern city of Minab.

The escalating confrontation has raised concerns about regional stability, civilian safety and further disruption to global travel and energy markets.