Intense Iranian attacks on Gulf countries in the early hours of dawn

Bahrain reports 32 people injured in an Iranian drone attack south of Manama, including several serious cases, while Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar announced that they intercepted missile and drone threats.

Thirty-two Bahrainis, including four seriously injured, were wounded early Monday morning after an Iranian drone attack targeted the Sitra area south of the capital Manama. Other Gulf countries also reported intercepting missile and drone attacks targeting their territories, some of which caused fires.

Bahrain’s Ministry of Health stated in a statement reported by the official Bahrain News Agency that “the Iranian drone attack on the Sitra area has so far resulted in 32 civilian injuries, including four critical cases.” The statement added that “all those injured are Bahraini nationals, including a 17-year-old girl who suffered severe head injuries and two children aged 7 and 8 who sustained serious injuries to their lower limbs.” The youngest victim is a two-month-old infant.

Earlier, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior had reported in a statement that “citizens were injured and several homes were damaged in the Sitra area following an Iranian drone attack.”

In Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defense announced in several statements that eight drones were intercepted and destroyed in the Rub’ al Khali desert while heading toward the Shaybah oil field in the southeast of the Kingdom. Saudi air defenses also intercepted and destroyed another drone east of the Al-Jouf region in the north of the country.

In the United Arab Emirates, the government of the Emirate of Fujairah reported that a fire had broken out in the Fouz petroleum area after debris fell as a result of interception operations carried out by air defense systems. The fire was later brought under control without any reported injuries.

In a later development, the UAE Ministry of Defense stated that its air defenses “are dealing with missile and drone threats coming from Iran,” adding that “the sounds heard in various areas of the country are the result of interceptions carried out by ballistic missile defense systems and fighter jets targeting drones.”

In Kuwait, the Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy announced that a limited fire had broken out in one of the fuel tanks at the Al-Subiya power generation and water distillation plant in the north of the country.

The ministry said in a statement that “the station’s security, safety, and emergency teams dealt immediately with the fire according to approved procedures and emergency plans, bringing it quickly under control without causing any human injuries.”

The ministry did not specify the cause of the fire, but it coincided with drone attacks and interception operations conducted by the Kuwaiti military in the country’s airspace.

Later, the Kuwait News Agency reported that the Kuwaiti National Guard had shot down a drone at one of the sites it protects, without providing further details. The Kuwaiti army also announced that it had intercepted hostile missile and drone attacks in the country’s airspace.

In Qatar, the Ministry of Defense announced that it had intercepted a missile attack targeting the country, without providing further details. On Sunday, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates had already reported new missile and drone attacks against their territories.

On Saturday, Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian issued an apology to neighboring countries, stating in a televised speech that Iran would stop targeting them “unless attacks are launched from their territories” against Iran. Nevertheless, the attacks continued at varying intensities, drawing criticism from the conservative faction over the president’s remarks.

Since February 28, Israel and the United States have been carrying out attacks against Iran that have killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several security officials. In response, Tehran has launched waves of missiles and drones toward Israel.

Iran has also targeted what it describes as “American interests” in Gulf countries, as well as in Jordan and Iraq, using missiles and drones. However, some of these attacks have caused deaths and injuries and damaged civilian infrastructure, prompting condemnation from the targeted Arab states, which have demanded that these attacks cease.