A serious escalation has been reported in the Persian Gulf after Iranian state television, citing military sources, announced the launch of attacks on United States military bases in the region. According to the reports, Iranian forces targeted several installations used by the U.S. and its allies across the Gulf.
One of the main targets was reportedly Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, where Iranian ballistic missiles allegedly struck the facility, causing large explosions that were heard in nearby Abu Dhabi. Following the incident, authorities in the UAE temporarily closed the country’s airspace as a precaution. In Bahrain, witnesses reported smoke rising from the Al Jufair district in Manama, the area that hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, after what has been described as another suspected Iranian strike.
Meanwhile, officials in Qatar announced that the country’s Patriot missile defense system intercepted a missile believed to be aimed at Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest American military bases in the Middle East. Qatar’s Interior Ministry urged residents to remain indoors and avoid military areas while emergency measures were put in place. Authorities also confirmed that the nation’s airspace had been temporarily closed. Several Gulf countries have issued safety warnings as tensions in the region continue to rise.
