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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). 
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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

Saudi Arabia Condemns Any Attempt to Close the Strait of Hormuz or Disrupt Waterways

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flag fluttering in Riyadh - File photo
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flag fluttering in Riyadh - File photo
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Any Attempt to Close the Strait of Hormuz or Disrupt Waterways

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flag fluttering in Riyadh - File photo
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's flag fluttering in Riyadh - File photo

On behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji participated by video conference in a meeting of the foreign ministers of MED9 member states, Arab League member states, and partner countries from the Western Balkans.

The vice minister delivered remarks affirming the Kingdom’s rejection and condemnation of any attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz or disrupt international waterways. He stressed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle guaranteed by law and must be respected and preserved.

“The impact of these disruptions has begun to reach global food security by affecting the movement of fertilizers and essential food supplies. This underscores the need to shield food and fertilizers from any pressures or practices that obstruct the flow of supplies under any circumstances,” he said, SPA reported.

Elkhereiji affirmed that the Kingdom will continue to play its role in supporting market stability, securing supplies, and helping keep regional and international flows moving smoothly by strengthening logistical connectivity and supporting cooperation in transport, storage, and supply chain resilience.

“These challenges require collective coordination to protect maritime corridors. What is needed today is a focus on practical steps that help increase availability and improve access to essential supplies, strengthening cooperation among partners and supporting regional and international stability,” he added.

Gulf

Albudaiwi: GCC Countries Activate Several Alternative Logistics Corridors

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
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Albudaiwi: GCC Countries Activate Several Alternative Logistics Corridors

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA
Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi. SPA

Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Albudaiwi affirmed that the GCC countries moved immediately to protect supply chains and ensure their continuity by activating a number of alternative logistics corridors and redirecting shipments from the Arabian Gulf ports to alternative ports on the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, supported by customs and logistics facilitation that ensures the flow of supplies and meets international demand for energy and fertilizers during the current circumstances.

This came during a speech delivered by Albudaiwi at the meeting dedicated to discussing a new political initiative entitled “Supporting Food Security and Access to Fertilizers”, held today via videoconference, in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic Antonio Tajani and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia and current chair of the Mediterranean Group Gordan Grlić Radman.

According to a press release issued by the GCC Secretariat General today, the GCC secretary-general stated that this meeting is being held at a highly critical juncture, in light of the blatant Iranian attacks targeting the GCC countries, and Iran’s continued disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has clearly revealed the depth of interconnection between regional security issues and the challenges of global food security, SPA reported.

“Since February 28, 2026, Iran and its proxies in the region have launched approximately 7,000 attacks using ballistic missiles and drones against the GCC countries over 45 consecutive days, targeting civilian facilities, infrastructure and energy facilities, including oil and gas, resulting in loss of life and significant material damage, and directly affecting the stability of global energy markets and supply chains, particularly food commodities and agricultural inputs, foremost among them chemical fertilizers,” he said in his speech.

Albudaiwi further stated that the Iranian aggression against the sovereignty of the GCC countries, the disruption of maritime navigation, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz constitute blackmail against the entire world and a clear violation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as a blatant breach of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

The GCC secretary-general commended the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which condemned these attacks, called for their immediate cessation, and urged refraining from threatening or disrupting maritime navigation in the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz or adjacent areas, with an unprecedented level of co-sponsorship in the history of the Security Council; nevertheless, Iran has not complied with it to date.

"The damages resulting from the disruption of maritime navigation are not confined to the borders of the GCC states but extend to impact the entire global economy. The world is currently suffering from shortages in the supply of oil, gas, and petrochemical derivatives, including agricultural fertilizers, with urea prices rising by 30% to 40%. This constitutes a direct threat to global food security, where developing nations reliant on energy and food imports will bear the greatest burden of this escalation while already facing inflationary pressures and high sovereign debt obligations," he explained.

The release added that Albudaiwi highlighted the harsh economic measures many countries have been forced to take to mitigate these repercussions, stressing that addressing these challenges requires collective action to develop practical tools, such as supporting price stability and intensifying logistical coordination to ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential goods.

“Today’s meeting serves as a vital opportunity to translate discussions into practical initiatives that enhance connectivity between our countries and support the stability of the region and the world as a space for cooperation and joint development," he stated, underscoring that dialogue and diplomacy remain the optimal means for addressing crises, while emphasizing that Iran must respect the sovereignty of neighboring states and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of GCC countries.

The GCC secretary-general called for considering all necessary measures to achieve the security and stability of supply chains, ensure the continuity of international maritime navigation, and realize global food security, underlining that these measures include ensuring a permanent cessation of Iranian attacks on the territories, ports and interests of GCC states in the waters of the Arabian Gulf and guaranteeing their non-recurrence.

He also highlighted the importance of taking all necessary measures to protect maritime corridors and ensure the continuity of international navigation in all straits, particularly the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, as maintaining maritime and regional security is a fundamental pillar of international peace and security.

Finally, he stressed the significance of committing to the provisions of international law and the concerted efforts of the international community to protect energy security, supply chains and the freedom of navigation in maritime passages in accordance with relevant international resolutions and treaties.

Gulf

Kuwait: State Security Criminal Court Sentences Defendants in Sectarian Strife Cases, Including Cleric

Palace of Justice in Kuwait (KUNA)
Palace of Justice in Kuwait (KUNA)
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Kuwait: State Security Criminal Court Sentences Defendants in Sectarian Strife Cases, Including Cleric

Palace of Justice in Kuwait (KUNA)
Palace of Justice in Kuwait (KUNA)

Kuwait’s Criminal Court, State Security Circuit, on Thursday issued prison sentences against 11 defendants, including cleric Hussein Al-Maatouq, who resides outside the country, sentencing him to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor and immediate enforcement in a case involving inciting sectarian strife.

The court, chaired by Counselor Nasser Al-Bader and comprising judges Omar Al-Mulaifi, Abdullah Al-Faleh, and Salem Al-Zayed, sentenced Hussein Al-Maatouq to five years’ imprisonment with hard labor and immediate enforcement. In other cases, the court acquitted two defendants of charges of spreading false news, while sentencing a third defendant to three years in prison.

The court also issued varying sentences in cases related to joining a banned group, ranging from three to 10 years’ imprisonment against four defendants after convicting them of the charges brought against them.

In three cases related to inciting sectarian strife, the court sentenced defendants to prison terms of three and five years, while deciding to refrain from punishing a third defendant while requiring him to post bail of 1,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

In a state security case, the court acquitted the defendant, while in another case involving violation of the law, it decided to refrain from punishing another defendant while requiring him to post bail of 3,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

Citizenship Withdrawn From 316 People

In a separate development, five decrees and two decisions were issued in Kuwait on Thursday withdrawing Kuwaiti citizenship from 316 people.

Decree No. 72 of 2026 stipulated the withdrawal of citizenship from 288 people and those who acquired it through dependency.

Decree No. 73 withdrew citizenship certificates from five people and those who acquired them through dependency, while Decree No. 74 withdrew citizenship from two people and those who acquired it through dependency.

Decree No. 75 of 2026 also stipulated the withdrawal of citizenship from one person and those who acquired it through dependency, while Decree No. 78 withdrew citizenship certificates from three people and those who acquired them through dependency.

Decision No. 84 of 2026 stipulated the withdrawal of citizenship certificates from 11 people and those who acquired them through dependency, while Decision No. 125 withdrew citizenship certificates from six people and those who acquired them through dependency.