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Gulf

Gulf Air Defenses Intercept 3,133 Iranian Missiles and Drones

The extent of damage caused by a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama (AFP). 
The extent of damage caused by a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama (AFP). 
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Gulf Air Defenses Intercept 3,133 Iranian Missiles and Drones

The extent of damage caused by a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama (AFP). 
The extent of damage caused by a drone strike in the Seef district of Manama (AFP). 

Gulf air defense systems have intercepted more than 3,133 Iranian missiles and drones targeting civilian and critical infrastructure across the region as the war involving Iran on one side and the United States and Israel on the other entered its 12th day.

The conflict has shifted from a phase of temporary military escalation to one of attrition, according to regional assessments.

Compiled statistics show that Saudi Arabia’s Royal Air Defense Forces have intercepted 25 missiles and 151 drones since the outbreak of hostilities. In the United Arab Emirates, defenses intercepted 270 missiles and 1,475 drones. Kuwait reported intercepting 239 missiles and 456 drones, while Qatar said it neutralized 143 missiles and 78 drones. Bahrain reported intercepting 106 missiles and 177 drones, and the Sultanate of Oman said it downed 13 drones.

Saudi Arabia

In Saudi Arabia, Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, said air defenses intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base in Al-Kharj, about 80 kilometers southeast of Riyadh, and another missile targeting the Eastern Province.

Air defenses also shot down eight drones in the Eastern Province, seven in the Empty Quarter heading toward the Shaybah oil field, five east of Al-Kharj, and two in Hafar Al-Batin, according to the ministry.

Oman

A security source in Oman said several drones were intercepted while others struck fuel storage tanks at the Port of Salalah, with no casualties reported.

Another drone was intercepted and one fell into the sea north of Duqm, again without casualties or material damage.

Omani authorities condemned the attacks and said they are taking all necessary measures to safeguard national security.

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals also confirmed that petroleum products remain available across the country and that oil supplies have not been disrupted.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran, adding that sounds heard in parts of the country were the result of missile interceptions and fighter aircraft downing drones.

In Dubai, two drones crashed near Dubai International Airport, injuring four people of different nationalities, according to the Government Media Office. Two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national sustained minor injuries, while an Indian national suffered moderate injury. Air traffic continued normally.

In Abu Dhabi, authorities contained a fire at the Old Abu Dhabi Airport caused by debris from an intercepted projectile. No injuries were reported.

Bahrain

Authorities in Bahrain reported hearing four explosions in different parts of the country, prompting the activation of warning sirens. The Ministry of Interior urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations.

The Civil Aviation Affairs authority said several aircraft were relocated from Bahrain International Airport to alternative airports.

Qatar

The Qatari Ministry of Defense said the armed forces repelled a missile attack, while the Ministry of Interior later confirmed that the security threat had subsided and that conditions had returned to normal.

Earlier, authorities had urged residents to remain indoors and avoid windows and open areas.

The Qatar Chamber said market supplies of goods remain stable and unaffected despite the current situation, after reviewing potential challenges related to supply chains, storage, and prices.

Kuwait

The Kuwaiti National Guard said it shot down eight drones in areas secured by its forces.

Brig. Gen. Jadaan Fadel, the guard’s official spokesperson, said the action was part of ongoing efforts to protect vital sites and counter potential threats.

Separately, Jazeera Airways announced flights from Al-Qaisumah Airport in Saudi Arabia to Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, and India.

Maritime Incident off Ras Al Khaimah

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said it received a report of an incident 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

The captain of a container ship reported damage from what is believed to be an unknown projectile. The extent of the damage remains unclear, but all crew members were reported safe and an investigation is underway.

 

 

 

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Gulf

UN Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Stresses Red Sea Maritime Security

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
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UN Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia, Stresses Red Sea Maritime Security

The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi flag. Asharq Al-Awsat

The United Nations condemned attacks by the Houthi militia targeting civilian infrastructure and the energy sector in Saudi Arabia, stressing the importance of protecting maritime security in the Red Sea and restoring and respecting navigation rights and freedoms in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in line with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The statement came during an emergency session of the UN Security Council held on Tuesday to discuss developments in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, during which UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari referred to the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia.

He stressed the need to restore and respect navigation rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait in line with international law and Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2722.

He also warned that ongoing disruptions in these maritime corridors could affect international peace and security, global energy markets, food security, and the economies of the most vulnerable countries.

Gulf

Saudi Defenses Intercept Drone that Attempted to Enter Makkah Airspace

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Defenses Intercept Drone that Attempted to Enter Makkah Airspace

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi defenses intercepted on Tuesday a hostile drone fired by the terrorist Houthis in Yemen before it entered the prohibited airspace area of the holy city of Makkah.

Official Spokesperson of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen Major General Turki Al-Malki revealed that this was the second hostile and terrorist attempt to target Makkah.

The first took place on July 27, 2017.

“This can only be described as a disgraceful act, an attempt to target the birthplace of revelation, the land of the message, and the destination that draws the hearts of millions of Muslims from around the world,” Al-Maliki continued.

“It was also an attempt to terrorize the Umrah performers visiting the Grand Mosque in peace and to harm citizens and residents,” he noted.

“This hostile attempt will remain a mark of shame on the record of violations committed by the extremist terrorist Houthi militia, as it was a deliberate act intended to provoke the feelings of millions of Muslims,” he added.

“The security of the Two Holy Mosques and the Umrah performers is a red line, and the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition will not hesitate to take the necessary and deterrent measures against the terrorist Houthi militia and its hostile and terrorist behavior,” Al-Malki stressed.

Repeated attacks

The repeated attacks on houses of worship highlight the stark contradiction between the Houthi militia's declared rhetoric and its conduct on the ground.  

While the Iran-backed group seeks to hide behind religion and adopt sectarian slogans to advance its military agenda, its practices prove that it is executing regional agendas that destabilize the security of the region and target its religious and civil foundations. 

The pace of attacks by the Houthis has witnessed a systematic escalation targeting Islamic holy sites and civilian objects within Saudi Arabia. This included attempted attacks toward the cities of Makkah and Madinah, as well as causing material damage to a mosque and injuring civilians in the Jazan region, in flagrant violation of the principles of international humanitarian law. 

According to Islamic law, mosques possess a sanctity guaranteed by explicit texts that mandate their protection and prohibit targeting them or transforming them into arenas of conflict, in times of both peace and war alike. 

The recent attack that caused damage to a mosque in the Jazan region is more evidence of the militia’s violation of Islamic legal tenets and values. This exposes its use of religious cover as a tool for political deception and to mask its violations against civilian objects and houses of worship. 

Dr. Qais Al-Mubarak, a former member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, said: “The preservation of life is one of the fundamental, essential interests for creation, and a Muslim is commanded to safeguard it and everything that ensures its preservation. Muslims have reached a consensus on this, and this meaning is further reinforced if the killing takes place in houses of worship.” 

Dr. Al-Mubarak stressed that what the Houthis have done in Yemen, including harming the Yemeni people and demolishing houses, is among the greatest evils.  

He added: “Today, they are targeting the holy sites in the Two Holy Mosques, without any consideration for their visitors and what might befall them from these indiscriminate attacks.” 

“This is a great evil that no nation would accept, is prohibited by all divine laws, and is only committed by those who hold no value or respect for human life; for the preservation of life is universally agreed upon among Muslims,” he added. 

Dr. Youssef Al-Rumaih, security advisor and professor of crime and terrorism counter-measures at Qassim University, stated that the Houthis’ terrorist targeting of holy sites inside Saudi Arabia demonstrates their disregard for the most basic Islamic principles.  

Despite pretending to uphold Islamic law, the group's actions never rise above mere rhetoric, exposed by the reckless projectiles they fire at the holiest sanctuaries of Islam, he remarked. 

“This terrorist group is beholden to regional agendas,” he said, pointing to the negative impacts that subservience to regional agendas has brought upon many countries in the Arab region, leaving them vulnerable to divisions and undermining their stability and social peace. 

Dr. Mohammed Al-Omari, a researcher in the history of Islamic legal sciences, said the recent Houthi attacks have gone beyond the military and security dimensions to become a direct assault on the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and a provocation to the sentiments of more than two billion Muslims around the world. 

“Makkah is not merely a geographical location, but rather the Holy City and the unifying Qibla for Muslims. Compromising its security or targeting the mosques of God in any region are an assault on the Islamic faith and collective conscience,” he stressed. 

“Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people, remains dedicated to the honor of protecting and caring for the Two Holy Mosques, and safeguarding the security of these holy sites against any threat,” he added. 

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince, Egyptian President Discuss Developments, Security of Navigation

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, holds talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo - SPA
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, holds talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo - SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince, Egyptian President Discuss Developments, Security of Navigation

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, holds talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo - SPA
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, holds talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at Al-Ittihadiya Palace in Cairo - SPA

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held talks in Cairo on Tuesday on bilateral relations, as well as developments in the region and issues related to Middle East security and stability, leading with marine navigation and freedom. 

Crown Prince Mohammed had arrived in Egypt earlier on Tuesday on a working visit. He held a bilateral meeting with Sisi and an expanded session of talks. 

They discussed the strategic bilateral ties between their countries and means to develop and bolster them in various fields. They also tackled issues of common interest on the Arab and Islamic scenes, as well as regional developments. 

After his departure, Crown Prince Mohammed sent a cable to Sisi, saying the visit and talks underscore the strength of fraternal relations between Riyadh and Cairo and the joint desire to develop cooperation in all areas. 

It also reflects a will to continue coordination and consultations of issues on mutual interest under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Sisi. 

Official Spokesperson for the Egyptian Presidency Mohamed El-Shennawy said Crown Prince Mohammed and Sisi were in agreement that the security of Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries was indivisible from that of Egypt’s. 

He stressed Cairo’s complete condemnation of any attacks that harm the Kingdoms sovereignty and stability and that threaten freedom of navigation in international marine waterways. 

He said the circumstances in the region demand more solidarity and coordination between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, adding that their interests and goals “were one” and that they were in “absolute agreement.” 

The Crown Prince’s visit underscores the solidarity and fraternity between Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries, he remarked. 

Observers told Asharq Al-Awsat that Red Sea security and means to secure international navigation were key aspects of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt, especially amid the developments in the region and threats to global supply chains. 

Saudi Arabia and Egypt had signed in September 2025 a cooperation protocol to support marine security within efforts to bolster military cooperation between their navies. 

International and regional affairs researcher Hani al-Gamal said the visit took place amid heightened tensions in the region and threats to Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait security. 

He noted the ongoing crises in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan, Syria and others. 

Al-Gamal outlined three primary considerations for the visit: first, the changing nature of threats in the region as they begin to affect the security of maritime corridors, supply chains, energy, and international trade. Second, by virtue of the capabilities of both countries, coordination becomes "a necessity to protect Arab interests." 

As for the third consideration, al-Gamal said that the visit carries a message that relations are not limited to official communications or coordination, but are rather based on a strategic partnership that requires continuous updating in light of new developments.