Iran has struck United States assets across Gulf Arab states in retaliation for a large joint attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, as the region’s worst fears of being drawn into a prolonged war loom.
On Saturday, the Iranian government confirmed attacks on several targets, according to the Fars news agency, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, which host U.S. airbases.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East have been struck “by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles”.
“This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,” it said. All US assets throughout the region are considered legitimate targets for Iran’s army, it added.
At least one person has been killed in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, after several missiles launched from Iran were intercepted, according to the country’s state news agency.
Bahrain says a missile attack targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet, which it hosts.
The government called it a “treacherous attack” and “a blatant violation of the kingdom’s sovereignty and security”.
Al Jazeera Arabic has meanwhile confirmed the sound of explosions in Kuwait, home to the US military’s Central Command headquarters.
In Qatar, the Defense Ministry says it “thwarted” several attacks on the country.
“The Ministry of Defense confirms that the threat was dealt with immediately upon detection, in accordance with the pre-approved security plan, and that all missiles were intercepted before reaching Qatari territory,” it said.
Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE have all closed their airspaces.