Iran Targets Gulf States With Drone and Missile Strikes Amid Regional War
At least four people were killed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait after Iran launched missile and drone attacks across Gulf countries, escalating tensions in the widening Iran regional conflict.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia confirmed that two people were killed and 12 others injured when a military projectile struck a residential area in Al-Kharj, a governorate located south of Riyadh. The victims were identified as an Indian and a Bangladeshi national, marking the first reported fatalities in Saudi Arabia since the conflict began.
Saudi civil defense officials said the projectile landed in a civilian neighborhood, causing damage and panic among residents. Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted radar systems in the Al-Kharj area.
Iran Defends Gulf Attacks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi defended the attacks, saying the strikes were aimed at US military installations in the region, as Iranian missiles cannot reach the United States mainland.
“It is the Americans who started this war against us,” Araghchi said in an interview with NBC. “We are defending ourselves by targeting American bases and installations in neighboring countries.”
The attacks come after the United States and Israel launched a major air campaign against Iran, which Tehran says killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier this year.
Kuwait Border Guards Killed
In Kuwait, officials confirmed that two border guards were killed while performing their duties amid the attacks. Authorities did not disclose full details of the incident but confirmed it occurred during ongoing missile and drone threats.
Kuwaiti military officials also reported that fuel storage tanks at Kuwait International Airport were targeted in a drone strike, sparking a fire that was later brought under control. Officials said there were no major injuries, though the attack caused damage to critical infrastructure.
As a precaution, Kuwait’s national oil company temporarily reduced crude oil production, citing rising security risks from the drone attacks.
Attacks Across the Gulf Region
The Iran missile attacks were not limited to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Several other Gulf countries also reported interceptions of drones and missiles.
- Bahrain said an Iranian drone strike damaged a water desalination plant, though water supplies remained unaffected.
- In Muharraq, falling missile debris injured three people and damaged a university building.
- Saudi Arabia reported intercepting 33 drones, including one targeting the Shaybah oil field and several aimed at Riyadh.
UAE Intercepts Dozens of Missiles
The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems detected 17 ballistic missiles, successfully destroying 16 of them, while 113 out of 117 drones were intercepted.
Four drones reportedly fell inside the country, causing minor damage but no injuries.
Authorities in Dubai briefly closed the city’s main airport, one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs, after an unidentified object was intercepted nearby. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by smoke near the airport area.
Regional Tensions Rising
Despite earlier comments from Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian expressing regret for strikes affecting Gulf states hosting US military bases, Iranian officials later warned that attacks would continue against locations they say are supporting US and Israeli military operations.
Gulf governments have denied allowing their territories to be used in attacks on Iran, but the region remains on high alert as drone and missile threats continue.
According to regional reports, at least 18 people have been killed across Gulf states since the conflict began, highlighting the growing danger of the war spreading across the Middle East.
Source: The Times of Israel