2026 Iranian strikes on Arab countries

Bahrain In Bahrain, Iran launched attacks on residential areas and energy facilities. In Sitra, the Bahraini Ministry of Health reported that 32 civilians were injured in a drone attack, including some in serious condition. In Ma'ameer, authorities announced the control of a fire that broke out in a facility after being targeted. Reports also indicated damage to the Bapco Refinery after an attack on the Sitra area. As of 18 March, 132 missiles and 234 drones were fired at Bahrain. Jordan Jordanian authorities announced that the country was targeted by dozens of missiles and drones, and that the armed forces intercepted most of them. On 12 March, the Public Security Directorate announced that shrapnel fell in the Hashemite area in Zarqa Governorate, causing limited damage to a water line. Kuwait In Kuwait, Iran launched attacks toward the airport, electrical infrastructure, and residential buildings. The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Iranian attacks and noted that some of them targeted Kuwait International Airport. On 9 March, the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy announced that a fire that broke out in the fuel tank at Subiya Power Station was caused by drone debris. Kuwait announced the death of a child who died from injuries sustained after drone debris fell on a residential area. Oman In Oman, Iran began launching a series of drone strikes on sites in Oman starting from 1 March, initially targeting the Port of Duqm and the Port of Salalah, which are used by the United States. The attacks also struck two oil tankers, one off the coast of Muscat and another about five kilometres north of the Port of Khasab. The UAE-flagged tugboat Mussafah 2 was attacked by Iran in the Omani territorial waters of the Strait of Hormuz, killing four crew members. separate drone strikes targeted an industrial zone in Sohar and Bukha. The attacks killed 7 people and injured 18 others. Qatar In early March, the Qatari Ministry of Defense announced that the country was targeted by two ballistic missiles, one of which was intercepted by air defenses, while the other fell on Al Udeid Air Base without causing any human casualties. Additionally, missile debris fell on a food storage warehouse, causing a fire in several warehouses. Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia faced several missile and drone attacks during the regional escalation in March 2026. The attacks targeted military sites, oil facilities, and sensitive areas in the capital, the east, and the Empty Quarter. There were also repeated reports about the targeting of the Shaybah Oil Field in the Empty Quarter. In the Eastern Province, Saudi authorities announced an attempted attack on the Ras Tanura Refinery by a drone. In Riyadh, media reports indicated that a drone attack targeted the area around the U.S. Embassy in the diplomatic district, resulting in limited damage. Syria United Arab Emirates The UAE was subjected to missile and drone attacks targeting the country's airspace and several civilian targets. According to an official report, hundreds of missiles and drones were tracked, and there were recorded fatalities, injuries, and property damage. In Dubai, the Dubai Media Office reported that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport, resulting in four people being injured. In Abu Dhabi, the Abu Dhabi Media Office announced the control of a fire that broke out at the Old Abu Dhabi Airport due to debris falling after an air interception, with no injuries reported. As of 18 March, 342 missiles and 1,699 drones were fired at UAE. On 28 March, Iranian strikes hit Emirates Global Aluminium plant at Al Taweelah, Abu Dhabi. The strike caused severe damage, leading to an operational shutdown and repairs which are expected to take up to one year. Employees were injured in the attack. == Timeline ==

Although the Gulf countries did not request the United States to initiate war, and initially sought to de-escalate the situation while encouraging diplomatic solutions, more than two weeks after the outbreak of the conflict and the continued Iranian attacks targeting civilian and economic facilities in their countries, including oil facilities, ports, airports, and cities, as well as disrupting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, they began urging Washington not to end operations before weakening Iran's military capabilities significantly. The U.S. is seeking to rally Gulf support for participation in the war, while Gulf states remain cautious and avoid direct involvement for fear of escalation. Abdulrahman Al-Rashed, former director of Al-Arabiya television, criticized that some Arab countries are justifying Iran's aggression towards other Arab countries, which he argues is reflective of a wider cultural crisis between Arab states. By 29 March 2026 analysts of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America estimated that the Gulf states had burned through the majority of their interceptor missiles, with UAE and Kuwait having spent some 75% of their stock of Patriot missiles on defending against Iranian attacks, while Bahrain was estimated to have launched up to 87%. Omar Al Qasim argued in April 2026 that the Iranian strikes permanently altered the Gulf states' security calculus. Neither the survival nor the fall of the Iranian regime in the current conflict would be strictly desireable outcomes. He concluded that united pressure of Gulf states should force the United States to deliver a "comprehensive resolution of underlying threats", later defined as Iran's capabilities in the fields of ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial systems, proxy networks, and regional intervention mechanisms. For long-term security, a united defense architecture of Gulf states will be essential, with a genuine collective leadership. == See also ==