Iranian Retaliatory Strikes Hit US Bases Across Middle East as Debris Falls Near Abu Dhabi
Iranian forces launched missiles and strikes across the Middle East in a retaliatory campaign that hit multiple US military sites and sent plumes of black smoke over regional bases. The strikes carry immediate regional implications after a joint US-Israel attack earlier the same day, and debris falling in abu dhabi left at least one civilian dead.
Abu Dhabi: debris, casualty and Al Dhafra Air Base
UAE authorities said debris from intercepted missiles fell on a residential area in abu dhabi, causing material damage and killing a civilian. The UAE defence ministry described the incident as "a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles" and said its air defence systems "dealt with the missiles with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of missiles. " The US Air Force operates from Al Dhafra Air Base, south of Abu Dhabi, alongside the UAE Air Force; Al Dhafra was named among US installations struck in the Iranian response.
Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain
Huge plumes of black smoke were seen rising above an area near the headquarters of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, as Iranian forces said they had struck a US naval base there. The Bahraini state news agency BNA reported an attack on the Fifth Fleet centre. The extent of any damage is unclear and the US has not commented.
Al Udeid and Al Salem among bases struck
Iran said it had simultaneously struck four US bases across the Middle East as part of operation "Truthful Promise 4, " targeting US bases and assets in retaliation for an earlier attack on Iran. The bases identified were Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Salem base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. Qatar's defence ministry said it had intercepted several missiles that appeared to be targeting al-Udeid, which is described as the largest American base in the region.
Iranian cities and leadership sites hit
Multiple locations inside Iran were targeted in the joint US-Israel strikes that triggered Tehran's retaliation. The Revolutionary Guard Corps posted that Tehran, Isfahan, Tabriz, Kermanshah and Qom were among the cities hit. Facilities linked to Iran's leadership were struck, including the residence of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the intelligence ministry, the defence ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization. Satellite imagery of the leader's compound shows black smoke and extensive damage, with at least four buildings struck; an Iranian official said Khamenei was not there at the time.
Casualties, interceptions and regional reactions
The Iranian Health Ministry put the human cost of attacks inside Iran at more than 60 students killed and around 80 injured in a strike on a girls' school in Minab, Hormozgan province. Elsewhere, state media SANA said four people were killed in Syria when a missile struck a building in the south of the country. At least one person was killed in the UAE in the course of the strikes. Two US NBC News there have been no reported American casualties.
The regional air space saw multiple interceptions: the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait all said they had intercepted missiles. In Israel, sirens were heard across the country after the Israeli military said it had detected an incoming Iranian missile barrage. A Sky correspondent reported a loud explosion had been heard in Dubai.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard framed the action as part of operation "Truthful Promise 4, " stating it was targeting US bases and assets in response to what it called a "massive" and ongoing attack on Iran launched earlier the same morning. That initial strike, carried out by US and Israeli forces, was launched at approximately 09: 15 Iran time (06: 15 GMT) and focused on sites linked to Iran's leadership. US President Donald Trump confirmed "major combat operations" against Iran in an eight-minute video on Truth Social. The Revolutionary Guard said it considers "all US bases, resources, and interests in the region to be legitimate targets" for retaliation.
Commentary from the field reflected heightened tensions: Sky's Europe correspondent Alistair Bunkall warned the Tehran regime "will not roll over and will die fighting if needs be. " The sequence — a morning joint US-Israel strike followed by Iran's wide-ranging counterattacks and multiple air-defence interceptions across Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE — produced immediate, measurable impacts on civilian areas and military installations, while the full extent of damage at several bases remains unclear.
