On the 13th Day of the War: Iranian Attacks on the “Gulf” Leave Injuries and Fires in Kuwait and Bahrain

Yemen Monitor / Monitoring Unit / Exclusive:

Iran launched military attacks on the six Gulf states on the 13th day of the U.S.-Israeli war on Tehran. During the past 24 hours, Saudi Arabia destroyed 35 drones and two ballistic missiles, while the UAE announced the destruction of 16 ballistic missiles, 7 cruise missiles, and 65 drones. Kuwait Airport was targeted by shelling that led to a fire, and two people were injured when a residential building was hit by an Iranian drone attack. In Bahrain, fires broke out in vital fuel tanks in Muharraq Governorate, and Oman revealed the downing of a drone in the airspace of Khasab province without casualties.

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Defense announced the interception and destruction of 35 drones and two ballistic missiles on Thursday, targeting the Eastern Province, the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh, and Prince Sultan Air Base; the attacks resulted in no injuries. According to the Defense Ministry, Saudi territory was subjected to a wave of 18 drones at dawn Thursday which were intercepted, with attacks continuing throughout the day, most notably those targeting the Diplomatic Quarter and Prince Sultan Air Base.

Politically, Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman held phone calls with the defense ministers of several countries, most notably South Korea’s “Ahn Gyu-back” and Turkey’s “Yaşar Güler,” to condemn the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom and its hostile attacks targeting the Republic of Turkey, discussing the impact of the ongoing escalation on regional and international security and emphasizing solidarity in measures taken to preserve their security and stability.

In the same context, the Foreign Minister received a phone call from the Australian Foreign Minister, during which they discussed developments of the escalation in the region and matters of mutual interest. Additionally, the Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister held a meeting with European ambassadors to the Kingdom to clarify the Kingdom’s position toward current events.

Bahrain

On Thursday, the Kingdom of Bahrain was subjected to Iranian attacks targeting fuel tanks at a vital facility in Muharraq Governorate, causing a fire that Civil Defense teams managed to control. Meanwhile, the Bahraini Defense Ministry announced it had successfully intercepted 112 missiles and 186 drones since the start of the Iranian aggressions, stressing the readiness of defense systems to handle successive aerial threats targeting economic and civilian facilities. On the security front, the Bahraini Interior Ministry stated it had arrested 4 Bahraini nationals involved in espionage for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, noting that investigations are underway to uncover their links to recent attacks and dismantle any other sabotage cells.

United Arab Emirates

The UAE Ministry of Defense announced that Air Defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed a series of hostile attacks including 16 ballistic missiles, 7 cruise missiles, and 65 drones in recent hours. Relatedly, the Dubai Government Media Office reported a drone falling in the “Al Bada’a” area of Dubai, confirming no human casualties from the incident.

Abu Dhabi disclosed the total toll of attacks, having monitored 278 missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,540 drones. These resulted in 6 deaths (of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities), in addition to 131 injuries ranging from minor to moderate. The Defense Ministry emphasized it is on high alert to firmly repel anything aimed at destabilizing the state’s security and protecting national assets.

Politically, the UAE President held a phone call with the Syrian President, emphasizing the need to prioritize dialogue and diplomatic means. The UAE also welcomed the UN Security Council resolution condemning the Iranian attacks in the strongest terms. Regarding official visits, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia arrived in the country on a work visit to discuss bilateral relations.

Kuwait

Two people were injured in Kuwait when a drone struck a residential building in the south of the country at dawn today, resulting in two injuries and material damage. Another drone targeted Kuwait Airport, leading to minor material damage without recorded injuries, according to the official Kuwaiti agency.

In this context, the Kuwaiti Army stated that air defenses destroyed 4 missiles and five drones, while one missile fell outside the threat zone and two drones hit vital facilities, bringing the total to five missiles and seven drones. A Defense Ministry spokesperson also revealed that some power lines went out of service due to falling debris from the interception process.

Politically, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah described the sinful Iranian attacks as a blatant violation of sovereignty and a flagrant breach of international law, international humanitarian law, and the UN Charter. While chairing the Kuwaiti delegation at the Gulf-British Ministerial Council meeting via video call, he condemned the targeting that has affected his country and the Gulf states since February 28th. Additionally, the Interior Ministry announced a ban on plays, concerts, and weddings during the Eid al-Fitr period to preserve public security and safety.

Oman

Sultanate of Oman announced the downing of a drone in the airspace of Khasab province without losses, a day after fuel tanks at Salalah Port were targeted. Relevant authorities also mentioned that the Royal Navy of Oman evacuated 20 people after their commercial ship was targeted northeast of Musandam Governorate.

Qatar

Qatar was subjected to Iranian attacks involving two ballistic missiles, a third cruise missile, and several drones; the Defense Ministry announced they were all intercepted without injuries. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways announced it has transported approximately 300 tons of essential goods to the country since the beginning of March. On the civilian side, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education postponed the mid-second semester exams for the 2025–2026 academic year to next April.