After Israel, the perpetrator of genocide in [Gaza/Palestine], and their ally the United States imposed an unjust war on Iran, Tehran has been responding appropriately. In addition to striking the extremist Zionist territory directly, the Islamic Republic is attacking U.S. military bases and strategic installations in the Gulf countries with drones and missiles.
On Sunday (March 15), the 16th day of the conflict, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain reported intercepting large-scale attacks.
In Bahrain, sirens went off due to fears of Iranian attacks, while the UAE announced missile threats and instructed residents to take shelter in safe locations.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its defense system intercepted and destroyed 10 drones in the skies over the capital Riyadh and the country’s Eastern Province.
Saudi authorities reported on Sunday (March 15) that their air defense system had intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles and at least 34 drones.
This occurred after Iran resumed its nighttime attacks on Gulf countries.
In separate posts on the social media platform X, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense stated that all missiles over Al-Kharj, where Prince Sultan Air Base is located, were neutralized. Most drones were intercepted over the Eastern Province, where large oil refineries are located. Some drones were also shot down over the Riyadh region.
These attacks are part of Iran’s campaign of nightly missile and drone strikes on Gulf countries, carried out over more than a week, in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks inside Iran. Observers noted a pattern of relative calm during the day, followed by renewed attacks every evening.
The impact of this violence has spread beyond Saudi borders to other countries.
Early Sunday morning, explosions were seen in the skies over Manama, the capital of Bahrain. Bahraini authorities said that since the start of Iran’s operation, they had intercepted 125 missiles and 203 drones. The attacks have killed two people in Bahrain and another 24 in neighboring Gulf countries.
Brigadier General Jadaan Fadel, spokesperson for Kuwait’s National Guard, reported early Sunday (March 15) that the country’s defense forces had shot down five drones in the past 24 hours. Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said in a statement that the radar system at the international airport was damaged during a drone attack on Saturday night. Since the outbreak of the war, all flights have been suspended.
The UAE Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that they are countering Iran’s missile and drone threats. On Saturday, their air defense system intercepted nine Iranian ballistic missiles and 33 drones.
Dubai Media Office posted on X that sounds heard in the Marina and Al-Sufouh areas were the result of successful interceptions by the air defense system. Iran has called for the evacuation of three major UAE ports and, for the first time, threatened attacks on civilian (non-U.S.) installations in a neighboring country.
The Ministry of Defense reported on X that since the start of the attacks, the UAE has intercepted 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,600 drones. Six people have died in the country due to this conflict so far.
