Seven Days of Gulf Attacks
Qatari airforce escorts the plane transporting U.S. President Donald Trump as it prepares to land in Doha from Saudi Arabia on May 14, 2025. ©Brendan Smialowski / AFP

Iranian attacks on Gulf countries have stretched into their seventh day, as targets continue to broaden. Iran initially focused targets on military installations but has since expanded to include civilian targets and energy infrastructure.

Today alone, the UAE, which has fielded the highest number of Iranian attacks since the start of the war, reported the detection of nine ballistic missiles and 112 drones, adding to over 1000 reported incidents since Sunday. All but three drones were intercepted.

Saudi, which normalized relations with Iran in 2023, also reported a number of drone and missile engagements on Thursday and Friday, prompting a phone call between Saudi and UAE Defense Ministries on Thursday, according to Ashraq Al Awsat. 

On Friday, Qatar reported the successful interception of drones targeting America’s Al-Udeid Air Base, which followed a day of heavy strikes on the gulf country. Qatar’s Emir, long an mediator for talks between the United States and Iran, reiterated his policy that Qatari airspace must not be used for offensive operations against Iran.

Meanwhile, in Bahrain, the country’s main oil refinery was hit in an Iranian missile strike, sparking a fire that was quickly brought under control, local authorities said. Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense stated on Friday that they were battling missile and drone attacks which had breached the country’s airspace.

Gulf states have faced broader attacks on their major cities, with international airports in Abu Dhabi and Doha and the U.S. embassy in Riyadh also coming under attack in recent days, according to statements by respective ministries.

Officials from two Gulf countries told the Associated Press that their governments were disappointed in the lack of coordination from the United States, saying they had not received adequate notice in order to prepare for Iranian retaliatory strikes.

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