Iran pounds Gulf, regional states after US–Israel strikes: What to know
Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, as well as Israel, Jordan and Iraq, have all been targeted by Iranian missiles.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced strikes on “all occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region” on Saturday following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. The Iranian missile barrage targeted most Gulf states, as well as Israel and other parts of the region after weeks of US-Iran nuclear talks failed to reach a breakthrough.
Kuwait
The official Kuwait News Agency reported that Ali al-Salem Air Base, which hosts US troops, was targeted by ballistic missiles. The projectiles were “successfully intercepted,” and debris fell around the base, Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Saud al-Atwan told the agency.
There are around 13,500 US troops stationed in Kuwait.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said there was “significant damage to the runway,” according to Italy’s ANSA news agency. An unknown number of Italian troops are also stationed at the base.
Videos circulated on social media showing smoke rising in Kuwait, with Iranian media claiming the footage showed the impact of a strike on a US base, though the Pentagon has not commented.
Later on Saturday, Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation said a drone hit the country's airport, resulting in minor injuries to some workers and limited material damage.
#BREAKING
— Tehran Times (@TehranTimes79) February 28, 2026
Footage showed Iranian missiles impact on the US base in Kuwait. pic.twitter.com/iz709EAf1z
Qatar
The Qatari Defense Ministry said that three waves of “attacks” occurred in the country, with “all missiles intercepted before reaching the country's territory,” the official Qatar News Agency reported.
Al Jazeera aired footage showing the aftermath of an explosion in the country.
Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar is the largest US military installation in the Middle East and a critical hub for American air operations. The base hosts around 10,000 US troops.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as the "blatant and cowardly Iranian attacks that targeted the Riyadh Region and the Eastern Province," adding that the attack was "successfully intercepted."
The ministry said Iran was aware that the kingdom had affirmed it would not allow its airspace to be used for an attack on the Islamic Republic and added that it may respond.
"The Kingdom affirms that it will take all necessary measures to defend its security and safeguard its territory, its citizens and its residents, including the option of responding to the aggression," the ministry said.
United Arab Emirates
The Emirati Defense Ministry said the country sustained a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles,” adding that its forces intercepted an unspecified “number” of projectiles. Debris from the intercepted missiles fell in several parts of Abu Dhabi, the official Emirates News Agency reported.
At least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi, Reuters reported, citing state media. The circumstances surrounding the death were not immediately clear.
A video post on X by Reuters journalist Timour Azhari showed fire and smoke rising from a hotel in the luxurious Palm Jumeirah area of Dubai after a blast.
Around 3,500 US forces are present at the Al Dhafra Air Base near the city, and the installation is another significant American air hub in the region.
Bahrain
The Bahrain Defense Force’s General Command said it intercepted a “hostile missile attack from Iran.” There were no casualties, the official Bahrain News Agency reported. The US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters compound outside Manama was also hit by what appeared to be at least one Iranian attack drone, although no casualties were reported.
A spokesperson for US Central Command declined to comment on the strikes.
Around 8,000 American troops are stationed in the country.
Jordan
Jordan’s official news agency, Petra, reported that the kingdom’s military intercepted two ballistic missiles over its airspace. Later, the agency said that debris from ballistic missiles caused 12 impacts across the country, including in the governorate of the capital, Amman, resulting in no casualties.
US troops are stationed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base near Amman.
Israel
The Israeli military said at around 4:29 pm local time (9:29 am ET) that “defense systems are operating to intercept the threat” as Iran fired several barrages of missiles, mainly targeting areas near Tel Aviv and central Israel. Sirens sounded across the country on Saturday as Israeli media reported a direct hit on a building in central Israel, citing emergency services.
And again! https://t.co/n9AQUzdhT0 pic.twitter.com/b8fdNqpKnk
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) February 28, 2026
Iraq
The Kurdistan Region’s Counterterrorism Unit said it shot down a number of missiles and drones over Erbil, the official Iraqi News Agency reported.
US troops are stationed at an air base at the city’s airport and there are around 2,000 US troops in Iraq overall.
My exclusive video showing defense systems active above Erbil airport pic.twitter.com/9r5w7NGR56
— Wladimir van Wilgenburg (@vvanwilgenburg) February 28, 2026
Syria
Syrian authorities said four people were killed in a “missile explosion” in the southern city of Suwayda, the official SANA news outlet reported. The outlet also published photos of a downed missile in Quneitra, near the Israeli border, describing it as “a result of the strikes between Israel and Iran.”
