Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Dubai Under Fire: Iran Strikes US Navy Base and Gulf Capitals in Massive Retaliation
The Gulf region is under direct attack on Saturday, February 28, 2026, as Iran launches a sweeping ballistic missile barrage targeting US military installations across Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, and beyond. The strikes are Iran's direct response to Operation Epic Fury — the joint US and Israeli military campaign launched earlier Saturday against Tehran.
Bahrain Navy Base Hit: US Fifth Fleet Headquarters Targeted
Iran's missile barrage struck Naval Support Activity Bahrain, the Bahrain Navy base that serves as headquarters for the US Navy's Fifth Fleet. The facility, located in Manama's Juffair district, is one of the most strategically critical US military installations in the Middle East. Footage circulating on social media showed heavy smoke rising over the base shortly after impact.
Bahrain's government confirmed the attack and called it "treacherous" and a "blatant violation" of the kingdom's sovereignty and security. Sirens rang out across Manama as the Interior Ministry urged citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location immediately. Residents were advised to use main roads only when absolutely necessary to allow emergency services to operate.
UAE News: Explosion Rocks Abu Dhabi, One Dead in Dubai-Area Strikes
Explosions shook Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, as Iranian ballistic missiles targeted Al Dhafra Air Base, which houses US military personnel. UAE authorities confirmed that air defenses intercepted multiple incoming missiles, but one person was killed by shrapnel in Abu Dhabi — the first confirmed civilian fatality attributed to Iranian missile strikes across the Gulf region Saturday.
The UAE declared the attack a "flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law" and stated it reserves the full right to respond. Dubai news emerged moments later, with Euronews journalists on the ground in Dubai reporting hearing explosions just minutes after the Abu Dhabi blasts were confirmed. The UAE closed its airspace as a precautionary measure, and Lufthansa announced the suspension of all flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi until at least March 1.
Qatar News: Al Udeid Air Base Targeted, Three Missiles Intercepted
Qatar news dominated regional headlines as Iranian missiles flew toward Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military facility in the entire Middle East. Qatar's air defense systems, including US-made Patriot interceptors, successfully neutralized multiple incoming missiles. Three ballistic missiles were intercepted over Al Udeid, with explosions heard across Doha as the defense systems engaged.
Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority immediately suspended all air navigation and closed the country's airspace. The US Embassy in Qatar issued a shelter-in-place directive for all embassy personnel and urged American citizens throughout Qatar to find secure shelter until further notice. India also issued a formal advisory urging its nationals in Qatar to exercise caution and monitor official communications closely.
Bahrain Country on Full Alert as Riyadh and Kuwait Report Blasts
Bahrain country-wide emergency sirens activated simultaneously across Manama and surrounding areas as Iranian missile salvos continued. The Bahrain Navy base strike prompted an immediate national security response, with Bahrain's Interior Ministry broadcasting instructions for all residents to avoid non-essential movement. Gulf Arab nations uniformly condemned the Iranian strikes as violations of their sovereignty.
Riyadh in Saudi Arabia also reported hearing explosions, though no confirmed strikes were immediately reported in the Saudi capital. Kuwait confirmed blasts near Ali Al Salem Air Base, another key US military facility, while Jordan reported sirens near Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. Iran's state media declared that all US and Israeli assets across the Middle East had become "legitimate targets" with no further red lines recognized.
US Navy and Military Response Across the Region
The US Navy has yet to release an official damage assessment for the Bahrain Navy base strike, though the Pentagon confirmed that Operation Epic Fury remains active and ongoing. US bases across Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Jordan were all declared targets by Iranian state media. The scale and coordination of Iran's retaliatory volley surprised some regional analysts, who noted it reflected months of pre-planned contingency operations.
Trump, in a brief overnight interview, stated he wants Iran to become a "safe nation" for its people. The US Department of Defense confirmed the operation's name as Operation Epic Fury and indicated strikes on Iran would continue for several additional days. No official US casualty figures have been released from any of the Gulf base locations.
Airspace Chaos, Markets, and What Comes Next for Dubai, Bahrain, and the UAE
Qatar, the UAE, and Kuwait all closed their airspace within hours of the Iranian retaliatory launch, triggering aviation chaos across the Middle East. Dozens of civilian aircraft were forced to divert mid-flight as airspace restrictions spread from Iran outward through Iraq and into Gulf corridors. Dubai news of airspace closures compounded earlier disruptions already affecting airlines routing through the Persian Gulf.
Global energy markets face severe pressure as the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow chokepoint through which approximately 20% of the world's oil transits daily — sits at the epicenter of the conflict zone. Analysts warn that further strikes on Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, or Saudi Arabia could trigger energy price shocks far beyond the region. The situation across all Gulf states remains fluid, dangerous, and rapidly evolving as of Saturday evening ET.
