Several Gulf nations have reported missile and drone attacks on their territories, occurring just hours after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) stated on Wednesday that its air defences were actively engaging incoming projectiles from Iran, with explosions heard across the country due to interceptions of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The UAE’s Defence Ministry emphasized in a statement: “The air defences are currently dealing with missiles and drones coming from Iran.”
Kuwait also reported that its air defences intercepted a wave of Iranian drones launched since 8:00 AM local time (05:00 GMT). The Kuwaiti army noted that some drones targeted vital oil facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants in the south of the country, causing serious infrastructure damage. In a statement, Kuwait’s Defence Ministry responded to what it described as “intense hostile Iranian attacks,” adding that a total of 28 drones were dealt with during the engagement.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior reported alleged Iranian attacks that injured two people, hours after the US announced the ceasefire with Iran. The ministry stated: “Two citizens sustained minor injuries and a number of houses were damaged in the Sitra area as a result of shrapnel falling from the interception of an Iranian drone.” According to the AFP news agency, explosions were heard in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, in the morning, with smoke seen rising from an area on Sitra Island that hosts Bahrain’s principal energy facilities.
Iran has not yet responded to the claims by the Gulf nations. Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that an oil refinery on the country’s Lavan Island came under attack on Wednesday, with firefighters working to contain the blaze and no casualties reported. The ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was agreed upon barely an hour before US President Donald Trump’s deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire, highlighting the fragile nature of the agreement.
Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile barrages from Iran in recent weeks, purportedly in response to US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28. Iran has targeted fossil fuel infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations while effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz to shipping, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes, raising concerns about regional stability and energy security.
Source: www.aljazeera.com