More Explosions Heard in Dubai, Doha and Manama

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah inspects the procedures for dealing with the damage at Kuwait International Airport (KUNA)
Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah inspects the procedures for dealing with the damage at Kuwait International Airport (KUNA)
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More Explosions Heard in Dubai, Doha and Manama

Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah inspects the procedures for dealing with the damage at Kuwait International Airport (KUNA)
Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Abdullah inspects the procedures for dealing with the damage at Kuwait International Airport (KUNA)

Fresh blasts were heard across the Gulf cities of Dubai, Doha and Manama on Sunday morning after a day of Iranian strikes in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks.

AFP reporters heard blasts in Dubai, Bahrain's capital Manama and Qatar -- where AFP correspondents saw thick black smoke rising on the clear morning horizon in the south of the city.

The new explosions came after a day of deadly Iranian strikes in the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi, as well as hits on military bases and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf -- except for mediator Oman.

Iran's attacks on the Gulf raised fears of a wider conflict and rattled a region long seen as a haven of peace and security in the turbulent Middle East.

On Saturday, across the UAE, Iran fired 137 missiles and 209 drones at the territory, the country's defense ministry said, with fires and smoke reaching landmarks The Palm and Burj Al Arab.

At Abu Dhabi's airport, at least one person was killed and seven wounded during what the facility's authority called an "incident". Dubai airport, the world's busiest for international traffic and Kuwait's airport were also hit.

In Qatar, officials said Iran had launched 65 missiles and 12 drones towards the Gulf state, most of which were intercepted, but eight people were injured in the salvos, with one of them in critical condition.

On the first day of the strikes, smoke poured from US bases in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain's capital Manama, home of the American navy's Fifth Fleet, witnesses saw, with bases also targeted in Kuwait.

In Manama, the Iranian attacks saw drones and shrapnel slam into residential buildings, with video on social media showing smoke and fire from high-rises.

Saturday's unprecedented barrage also targeted Qatar's Al Udeid base, the region's biggest US military base, as well as Riyadh and eastern Saudi Arabia.



Saudi Crown Prince, Lebanese President Discuss Latest Developments in Lebanon, Region

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
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Saudi Crown Prince, Lebanese President Discuss Latest Developments in Lebanon, Region

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. (Saudi Foreign Ministry)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a telephone call from Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun.

They discussed the latest developments in Lebanon and the region and efforts exerted towards them.

Aoun expressed his deep gratitude to Saudi Arabia for supporting Lebanon and its efforts in achieving stability and peace in the region.


Kuwait Condemns Iranian Attack on Power, Water Desalination Facility

This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)
This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)
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Kuwait Condemns Iranian Attack on Power, Water Desalination Facility

This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)
This screen grab taken from UGC video footage posted on social media on July 18, 2026, shows a plume of black smoke and flames billowing over the town of Mangaf, south of Kuwait City. (Photo by various sources / AFP)

The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry condemned on Sunday an Iranian attack on a power generation ‌and ‌water desalination ‌facility, ⁠calling it a ⁠direct strike on vital civilian infrastructure. 

The repeated targeting of civilian ⁠facilities amounted ‌to a dangerous ‌escalation and ‌violated international ‌law, the UN Charter and UN Security Council ‌Resolution 2817, the ministry said in a ⁠statement. 

It ⁠said Iran bore full legal and moral responsibility for the attack and its consequences. 

The United States launched more airstrikes at Iran on Sunday in response to the killing of US troops, and Iran fired missiles toward the region and Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel. 

The US military said the latest strikes targeted Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for Friday's killing of troops in Jordan. 

Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain again activated air defenses for incoming Iranian drones and missiles.  

Kuwait said Sunday that Iran was targeting it with missile and drone strikes.

The country’s army said in a statement that its air defenses had been activated “following the sinful Iranian aggression.” The attacks came after more than a week of Iran and the United States trading strikes.

Chief of the General Staff said in a statement that Kuwait's “air defenses were intercepting hostile missiles and drones following a criminal Iranian aggression."

It said explosions that could be heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting the incoming attacks.

Authorities voiced calls on all citizens and residents to follow the security instructions issued by the relevant authorities and monitor official guidance. They have not so far reported any casualties or damage resulting from the attacks.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Iran's Continued Aggression on Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Iran's Continued Aggression on Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan

General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
General view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Saturday Iran's continued aggression on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan reaffirming the Kingdom's full support for the brotherly countries in all measures they take in response to the flagrant Iranian attacks, which violate international law.

The Kingdom also reiterated its utter rejection of Iran's blatant attacks on infrastructure and civilian and vital facilities, including a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait.

The Kingdom stressed the importance of an immediate halt to all forms of military escalation, in a manner that preserves the security and stability of the region's countries and their peoples.