On the fifth consecutive day of Iranian attacks targeting Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar all reported intercepting missiles and drones as the regional escalation showed no sign of slowing.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said Wednesday that two cruise missiles were intercepted and destroyed over the Al-Kharj district south of the capital, Riyadh. In a separate statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, a ministry spokesman said nine drones were intercepted and destroyed immediately upon entering the Kingdom’s airspace. The statements did not specify who was responsible for the attacks.
The defence ministry also said it had intercepted a drone targeting the massive Ras Tanura refinery along the kingdom’s eastern Gulf coast. “Initial estimates indicate that the attack was carried out by a drone and did not result in any damage,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X.
Earlier this week, on Monday, some operations at the Ras Tanura facility were halted after an attack caused a fire at the complex. The refinery, one of the largest in the Middle East and a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s energy sector, has a production capacity of 550,000 barrels per day.
Kuwait
Kuwait’s military said Wednesday it had detected incoming projectiles and was working to intercept them, as Iran pressed its campaign into a fifth day.
“The armed forces are currently dealing with a wave of missiles and drones that have been detected in the airspace of the State of Kuwait, and are carrying out their missions to confront and intercept them,” the army said in a statement. An AFP reporter in Kuwait City said sirens sounded as the interceptions were under way.
Kuwait said that an 11-year old girl was killed from falling debris.
United Arab Emirates and Qatar
The United Arab Emirates said its air defences had successfully engaged three ballistic missiles and detected 129 drones on Wednesday. According to the defence ministry, 121 of the drones were intercepted, while eight fell on state territory.
Qatar’s military said it was targeted “at dawn today, by 10 drones and 2 cruise missiles coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran,” adding that all of the projectiles were intercepted.
The latest wave of interceptions underscores the widening scope of Iran’s strikes across the Gulf, as regional states remain on high alert amid the intensifying confrontation.
Oman
Oman’s navy rescued the crew of a Malta-flagged cargo ship after it was struck by two missiles near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Sultanate’s official news agency.
The Royal Navy of Oman responded to a distress call from the vessel and evacuated all 24 crew members, providing them with medical care. Authorities confirmed that the crew were safe and in good health following the rescue operation.
The incident occurred in waters near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for global energy shipments.
In a separate development, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported an incident about 20 nautical miles west of Dubai, where a container ship experienced an impact after an unidentified object fell nearby. No damage or injuries were reported, and investigations into the incident are ongoing.
Kuwait
Kuwait has delivered an official protest note to Iraq following attacks carried out by Iraqi armed factions that targeted Kuwaiti territory, according to a statement from the Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.
The protest memorandum was handed to Iraq’s chargé d’affaires in Kuwait, Zaid Shanshoul, in response to what Kuwaiti officials described as serious violations of the country’s sovereignty.
Ambassador Aziz Al-Daihani strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as dangerous acts that breach international law and undermine regional stability. According to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, the strikes caused casualties among civilians and military personnel and resulted in significant material damage.
Al-Daihani stressed that launching attacks against Kuwait from Iraqi territory, or from the territory of any neighboring state, constitutes an act of aggression under international law and contradicts principles of regional peace and stability.
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