Gulf air defenses intercepted and destroyed multiple Iranian missiles and drones targeting civilian sites, energy facilities, and critical infrastructure across the region, officials said Friday, as attacks continued to escalate.
In Saudi Arabia, air defenses downed 29 drones over the Eastern Province and Al Jouf.
Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery, operated by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, was targeted by drones for a second consecutive day, while Bahrain said it had faced 382 attacks since the start of the war, intercepting 141 missiles and 242 drones.
The United Arab Emirates said it dealt with four ballistic missiles and 26 drones launched from Iran.
The incidents come as Gulf air defense systems continue to repel successive waves of Iranian missiles and drones aimed at civilian objects, private property, energy installations and vital facilities.
Kuwait
Kuwait’s state news agency, citing Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, said drones struck the Mina al-Ahmadi refinery early on Friday, sparking fires in several operational units.
Firefighting and emergency teams quickly moved to contain the blaze, while several refinery units were shut down and precautionary measures were taken to ensure worker safety and secure the facility.
Initial estimates indicated no casualties, as authorities continued to assess the damage and investigate the circumstances.
The Kuwaiti military said it detected one ballistic missile and 25 drones over the past 24 hours.
Colonel Saud Al Atwan, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, said air defenses destroyed 15 drones, while two drones struck a refinery unit affiliated with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. Eight drones fell outside the threat zone and posed no danger.
Bahrain
Bahrain’s Defense Force General Command said its air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed 141 missiles and 242 drones since Iran began targeting the country.
Civil defense teams extinguished a fire at a company warehouse without injuries, the Interior Ministry said, adding that the blaze was caused by debris from Iranian attacks.
The General Command said in a statement that the use of ballistic missiles and drones against civilian objects and private property constituted a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, warning that such attacks pose a direct threat to regional peace and security.
United Arab Emirates
UAE air defenses on Friday intercepted four ballistic missiles and 26 drones launched from Iran, authorities said.
Since the start of the Iranian attacks, UAE air defenses have dealt with 338 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,740 drones.
The attacks have killed two members of the armed forces while on duty and six civilians.
The UAE also announced the dismantling of a “terrorist network” financed and run by Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Iran, with members arrested as part of ongoing efforts to safeguard national security and stability.
In a statement, the UAE State Security Apparatus (SSA) said the network had been operating within the country under a fictitious commercial cover and sought to infiltrate the national economy and carry out external schemes threatening the country’s financial stability.
According to state news agency WAM, the SSA explained that the network operated according to a pre-established strategic plan in coordination with external parties linked to Hezbollah and Iran, in violation of economic and legal regulations, to launder money, finance terrorism, and threaten national security.
Qatar
A fire broke out in a warehouse in Qatar without causing injuries, authorities said.
The Interior Ministry, cited by the Qatar News Agency, said civil defense teams were responding to the blaze in the Birkat Al Awamir area, with no casualties reported.
The ministry urged the public to rely only on official updates, avoid rumors and refrain from sharing unverified information, calling on residents to follow guidance calmly and responsibly to support public safety and security.
