Iran Launches Bahrain Missile Attack and Dubai Bombing Strikes Across the Gulf
Iran unleashed a sweeping wave of ballistic missiles and drones on Saturday, February 28, 2026, targeting US military bases in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE in direct retaliation for a joint US and Israel military operation dubbed "Operation Epic Fury." The strikes sent shockwaves through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, and Manama, marking the most dramatic escalation in the Gulf region in decades.
Bahrain Missile Attack Strikes US Navy 5th Fleet Base
Bahrain confirmed attacks inside its territory and said a service center of the US Fifth Fleet had been struck. The US Navy base in Bahrain, located in Manama's Juffair district, was directly targeted in what Bahrain's government called a "treacherous attack."
Video from a Reuters witness showed a plume of grey smoke rising near the coast as sirens wailed. "The sound of the first explosion terrified me," said a 50-year-old retiree living near the US base in Manama's Juffair area, where residents were quickly evacuated.
Three residential buildings in and around the capital Manama were damaged by drone strikes and debris from an intercepted missile. Bahrain's ambassador to the US called the strikes a "blatant violation of sovereignty" and stated that Bahrain reserves the right to respond.
Dubai Bombing at Palm Jumeirah and UAE Under Fire
The Dubai news out of Palm Jumeirah shocked the world's travel and business community. The Dubai media office confirmed an "incident" in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area that resulted in a fire and four people injured.
Smoke and flames rose from Dubai's Palm Jumeirah development after a building was damaged there. Residents in the area and tourists staying at hotels including the Fairmont Palm Dubai and other Palm hotel properties were reported sheltering in place throughout the afternoon.
UAE residents' phones blared with the text, "Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building." The UAE intercepted multiple waves of Iranian missiles, though one person died. A Pakistani national was killed in the UAE after being struck by falling debris, according to the Ministry of Defence.
US Naval Base Bahrain and Gulf Ally Bases Targeted Region-Wide
Iran's IRGC declared all US military targets across the Middle East legitimate. Iran's Fars news agency said the country was targeting Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet naval base in Bahrain.
The US Navy's 5th Fleet command, which Bahrain hosts, is responsible for securing the shipping lanes around the oil-rich Middle East. The us navy base in Bahrain has long been considered the most critical American naval installation in the region and a cornerstone of US presence among its Gulf ally nations.
As of mid-2025, there are about 40,000 to 50,000 US soldiers in the Middle East, comprising personnel stationed in both large, permanent bases and smaller forward sites across the region.
Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan Hit by Iranian Strikes
Qatar's Ministry of Defense issued a statement saying it expressed "strong condemnation of the targeting of Qatari territory with Iranian ballistic missiles, considering it a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty."
Loud explosions were heard in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks and confirmed its readiness to place all its capabilities at the disposal of ally nations. Saudi Arabia says it reserves the right of response after Iran attacks Riyadh and the Eastern Region.
Missiles were intercepted over Amman, Jordan, and flaming debris fell near a house with no reported injuries. Kuwait reported significant damage to a runway at Ali al-Salem Air Base and a drone strike on Kuwait International Airport that left employees with minor injuries.
Abu Dhabi, Burj Khalifa Zone, and UAE News on Civilian Impact
Some residents received a phone alert telling them to shelter in the closest secure building and stay away from windows because of missile threats. Fighter jets were seen flying above multiple districts in Abu Dhabi throughout Saturday afternoon.
While normal life carried on in some areas, some grocery delivery apps showed heavily delayed services, and some users appeared to be ordering in bulk. Dubai hotels and properties along the Palm Jumeirah, including those near the Fairmont Hotel Dubai, remained on lockdown status as air defences continued to engage incoming threats.
Several Dubai flights were cancelled or rerouted as the UAE closed its airspace, with Emirates flights diverting to Rome, Munich, Warsaw, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague.
Operation Epic Fury: US and Israel Trigger Regional War
The US Department of Defence announced that the current military operation in Iran is called Operation Epic Fury. US President Donald Trump stated the United States had begun "major combat operations" in Iran, citing the country's nuclear weapons programme as justification.
Iran's IRGC claimed all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East had been struck "by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles," adding, "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated." Gulf capitals that built their global reputations on stability and safety now face an uncertain and rapidly evolving security situation with no immediate resolution in sight.
