The Gulf countries come under missile and drone attacks overnight, causing panic
RIYADH – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain spent a sleepless night on Thursday as they came under sustained missile and drone attacks, with air defences activated across the three Gulf states as the US-Israeli war on Iran entered its 35th day.
Kuwait’s army said its air defences intercepted multiple hostile missiles and drones, urging panicky residents that any explosions heard were the result of interceptions rather than direct hits, and to follow safety instructions.
However, a drone strike triggered a fire at the Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery early Friday. Earlier in the week, fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport were also hit, causing a large fire but no casualties.
Kuwait’s National Guard also moved to quell social media rumours of a radiation leak. It confirmed that radiation readings in the air and territorial waters remained within normal levels and that specialised monitoring teams were operating around the clock in coordination with relevant authorities.
In Bahrain, warning sirens sounded thrice into the wee hours of Thursday. The Interior Ministry urged citizens to move to the nearest safe locations. Sirens are activated when potential threats or incoming attacks are detected.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry confirmed it intercepted and destroyed a drone targeting the kingdom overnight, without providing further details.
The overnight attacks are part of Iran’s sustained retaliatory campaign against Gulf states hosting US military assets, which has continued since the US and Israel launched their joint offensive on Iran on February 28.
The conflict has killed more than 1,340 people, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, while causing casualties, infrastructure damage and widespread disruption to global markets and aviation across the region. – Agencies
