On the sixth day of the war between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, Tehran continued launching attacks against Gulf countries, while air defenses in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates intercepted missiles and drones.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense announced that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed three cruise missiles outside the city of Al-Kharj in central Saudi Arabia. The defenses also shot down three drones east of Al-Kharj governorate.
The ministry’s official spokesman added that another drone was intercepted and destroyed east of the Al-Jawf region in northern Saudi Arabia near the border with Jordan.
Qatar
Qatar’s Ministry of Defense said Thursday that the country had come under a missile attack, confirming that its air defenses were responding to the incoming missiles.
In a statement carried by the Qatar News Agency, the ministry urged citizens, residents and visitors to remain calm and follow instructions issued by the security authorities.
Qatar’s Ministry of Interior also announced that, as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety, authorities had temporarily evacuated residents living in the vicinity of the US embassy. Alternative accommodation was provided, the ministry said in a statement on its official account on platform X.
Since the outbreak of the US–Israeli war against Iran on Saturday, Iranian forces have repeatedly launched missiles and drones at several Gulf states, including Qatar.
Complaint to the United Nations
Qatar sent identical letters to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and to Michael Waltz, the United States’ permanent representative to the UN and president of the Security Council for March, detailing the latest Iranian attack on Qatari territory.
According to the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country’s permanent representative to the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, said in the letter that the attack constituted a “flagrant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty and a direct threat to its security and territorial integrity, warning that it represents an unacceptable escalation threatening regional stability.
The letter reviewed details of the ongoing attacks, citing Defense Ministry figures showing that Qatar had so far detected three cruise missiles, 101 ballistic missiles, 39 drones and two Su-24 fighter jets.
Qatar said its armed forces successfully intercepted three cruise missiles, 98 ballistic missiles, 24 drones and the two fighter aircraft. It stressed that the armed forces possess the capabilities necessary to protect the country’s sovereignty and confront any external threat.
The country concluded by strongly condemning the attacks and affirming its full right to respond in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter in defense of its national interests. It also requested that the letter be circulated as an official Security Council document.
Kuwait
Kuwait on Thursday denied reports of an incident near Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port after Iran claimed that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps had attacked a US oil tanker sailing in the Gulf.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior said the incident occurred outside the country’s territorial waters and at least 60 kilometers away from the port.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported receiving a notification of an incident about 55 nautical miles southeast of Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port.
The captain of an oil tanker anchored in the area reported hearing and seeing a large explosion on the vessel’s port side before a small boat was seen leaving the scene.
An oil spill was observed, potentially causing environmental damage, while water also entered the tanker. UKMTO confirmed that all crew members were safe.
Iran’s Tasnim news agency reported that a fire had broken out aboard the tanker in the northern Gulf.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps also renewed its threat to seize control of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that vessels from the United States, Israel, European countries and their allies would not be allowed to pass and could be targeted.
The Strait of Hormuz plays a pivotal role in global energy trade, with about one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments passing through the waterway near Iran’s coast.
Missile attacks on vessels have repeatedly been reported in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. Iranian missile and drone threats have nearly halted commercial shipping in the region since the latest hostilities began.
The US president said the US Navy would escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.
United Arab Emirates
On the sixth day of the conflict, the UAE’s air defenses detected seven ballistic missiles, intercepting six while one fell inside the country. Authorities also detected 131 drones, intercepting 125 of them, while six landed on Emirati territory.
The attacks resulted in three deaths — from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh — and 94 minor injuries among people of multiple nationalities, including Emirati, Egyptian, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian and others.
Reuters reported late Thursday that repeated explosions were heard in Abu Dhabi near Zayed International Airport. The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority urged residents to move to safe locations and take shelter until the danger passed.
Since the beginning of the Iranian attacks, the UAE says it has detected 196 ballistic missiles, intercepting 181. Thirteen fell into the sea and two struck inside the country. Authorities also detected 1,072 Iranian drones, intercepting 1,001 while 71 landed within UAE territory. Eight cruise missiles were also intercepted.
The UAE Ministry of Defense said its forces remain fully prepared to counter any threat and safeguard the country’s sovereignty, security and stability.
Bahrain
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior said Thursday evening that a facility in the Maameer area had been targeted, adding that authorities responded immediately to the incident.
Earlier, Bahrain’s Defense Force said it had destroyed 75 missiles and 123 drones targeting the kingdom since the start of what it described as Iranian attacks.
The military urged residents to remain indoors except in cases of necessity, avoid filming military operations or debris sites and rely only on official sources for information.
Japan Evacuates Citizens
Japan’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that it will evacuate Japanese nationals from four Middle Eastern countries using chartered flights as the US–Israeli war against Iran continues.
According to the Kyodo news agency, Tokyo raised its travel advisory level for Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates — as well as Saudi Arabia and Oman — to Level 3, urging citizens to avoid all travel.
Japanese nationals wishing to leave will be transported overland to Saudi Arabia and Oman before boarding chartered flights to Tokyo.
