Fresh strikes reported across Gulf after overnight Iran bombings

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Countries across the Persian Gulf reported a fresh wave of drone and missile attacks on early Sunday, just hours after heavy overnight bombings inside Iran.

Authorities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates said air defenses were activated as multiple drones and ballistic missiles targeted civilian and government infrastructure across the region.

Kuwait airport fuel storage targeted

The Kuwaiti Army said a “wave of hostile drones” struck fuel storage facilities at Kuwait International Airport early Sunday local time.

Military air defenses intercepted several drones and ballistic missiles, according to state media. Officials said shrapnel and debris from the interceptions damaged nearby civilian infrastructure.

State-run media also reported that a drone strike hit the Public Institution for Social Security building in Kuwait City. Authorities said there were no injuries.

Separately, two Kuwaiti border security personnel were killed on Sunday while “performing their national duty,” state media said. It was not immediately clear whether the deaths were linked to the attacks.

Saudi Arabia intercepts drones, Bahrain reports infrastructure damage

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said its air defenses intercepted at least 21 drones in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Officials did not immediately report casualties or significant damage.

In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said three people were wounded after falling “missile fragments” damaged a university building.

Authorities also reported damage to a water desalination facility. However, Bahrain’s Electricity and Water Authority said the incident did not disrupt water supplies or the capacity of the national water network.

UAE air defenses respond to missile threat

The UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority said air defenses were responding to a missile threat early Sunday.

Later, the UAE Ministry of Defense said it had detected 17 ballistic missiles and 117 drones throughout the day. Of those, 16 missiles and 113 drones were intercepted. 

Officials said one missile fell into the sea, while four drones landed inside UAE territory. 

The attacks come a day after Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, apologized to Gulf nations for a week of drone and missile strikes targeting US bases in the region.

Pezeshkian said Tehran would halt attacks on neighboring countries unless Iran itself came under attack. His office later clarified that Iran would refrain from targeting regional states “if they do not cooperate in America’s attack on us.”

 Oman warns of ‘dangerous turning point’

The escalation has alarmed regional diplomats. Badr Albusaidi warned that the Middle East faces a “dangerous turning point” amid the widening conflict.

Speaking at a virtual meeting of Arab foreign ministers, Albusaidi said the war threatens regional stability and could bring serious political, economic and security consequences.

Oman, which has mediated multiple rounds of talks between Washington and Tehran, said that just hours before the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran last week, a diplomatic agreement between the two sides had been “within reach.”