Gulf Countries Close Airspace after Intercepting Rockets from Iran

 Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026. (Reuters)
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Gulf Countries Close Airspace after Intercepting Rockets from Iran

 Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026. (Reuters)
Smoke rises in the sky after blasts were heard in Manama, Bahrain, February 28, 2026. (Reuters)

Gulf countries temporarily closed their airspace after intercepting rockets fired at them from Iran in wake of the US and Israeli strikes against Iran.

In Qatar, the military said in a statement that it had intercepted incoming Iranian missiles before ⁠they reached ⁠Qatari territory.

The Interior Ministry said no damage was reported.

Bahrain confirmed an attack inside its territory and said a service center of the US Fifth Fleet had been struck.

The Kuwaiti army said it dealt with missiles in Kuwaiti airspace, while Jordan said it had downed two Iranian ballistic missiles.

The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry said it had intercepted an Iranian missile attack.

One person was killed after a rocket was intercepted in the capital, Abu Dhabi, reported the state news agency WAM.

The UAE slammed the attack, saying it was a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law.”

It stressed that “it reserves the right to retaliate to the escalation.”

Global airlines suspended flights across the Middle East, with flight maps showing the airspace over Iran virtually empty.



Saudi Crown Prince Condemns Iranian Attacks, Holds Calls with Several Leaders

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Condemns Iranian Attacks, Holds Calls with Several Leaders

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (SPA)

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud received a phone call on Saturday from French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the two leaders discussed the serious developments in the region and the repercussions of the ongoing escalation on regional security and stability.

The Crown Prince affirmed the Kingdom's condemnation of the Iranian missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and brotherly nations.

He emphasized that the Kingdom will take all necessary measures to defend its territory and reiterated full support for brotherly countries in preserving their sovereignty, security, and stability.

According to SPA, he also made phone calls to United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Bahrain King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwait Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Jordan King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein.

The Crown Prince affirmed Saudi Arabia’s full solidarity with their brotherly nations following the blatant Iranian attacks that targeted their countries, and declared the Kingdom’s unwavering support and readiness to place all its resources at their disposal to counter these aggressions, which undermine regional security and stability.


Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Failed, Cowardly Iranian Attacks Targeting Riyadh and Eastern Regions

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Failed, Cowardly Iranian Attacks Targeting Riyadh and Eastern Regions

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its strongest rejection and condemnation of the blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks targeting Riyadh and Eastern regions, all of which were repelled.

The Kingdom emphasized that these attacks cannot be justified under any pretext, especially as they occurred despite Iranian authorities' full awareness that Saudi Arabia had affirmed it would not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran.

In light of this unjustified aggression, the Kingdom affirmed that it will take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, citizens, and residents, including the option of responding to the aggression, SPA reported.

Earlier, the Kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it strongly condemns Iran’s “heinous” attack and “flagrant violation” of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan.

It underlined its complete solidarity with them, adding that it supports all the measures they take to ensure their security, said

It warned of the “grave consequences of the continued violation of the sovereignty of nations and principles of international law.”

It called for “firm measures to confront the Iranian violations that undermine the region’s security and stability.”


Drone Strikes Kuwait Airport as More Loud Explosions Heard over Doha

Headquarters of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (KUNA)
Headquarters of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (KUNA)
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Drone Strikes Kuwait Airport as More Loud Explosions Heard over Doha

Headquarters of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (KUNA)
Headquarters of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior (KUNA)

A drone struck Kuwait's international airport on Saturday, the civil aviation authority said, causing minor injuries as Iran retaliated across the Gulf for US and Israeli strikes.

"A drone targeted Kuwait International Airport, resulting in minor injuries to a number of employees, in addition to limited material damage to the passenger terminal," the authority said in a statement.

Meanwhile, fresh loud explosions were heard over central Doha on Saturday, according to AFP journalists, as Iran targeted United States military bases across the Gulf.

Iranian missiles were seen by an AFP journalist being intercepted overhead from Doha's corniche by missile defense systems during the salvo.

Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid military base, the largest US military facility in the region.