It all started with a joint military strike by the United States and Israel on Iran on Friday morning. Within hours, Iran launched a series of retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US military bases in the Persian Gulf region.
From Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to Doha in Qatar, from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia to Manama in Bahrain and Amman in Jordan, residents were rocked by several loud explosions near US military bases as they began fasting on the eleventh day of Ramadan 2026.
Palm Jumeirah fire
In Dubai, authorities, as reported by local media, confirmed that there was a fire in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area. Dubai Civil Defense said the resulting fire was now under control. Four people were injured and taken to medical facilities. The iconic Burj Khalifa has reportedly been evacuated.
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As tensions escalated, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspace. The geographic spread of the explosions marked one of the most serious escalations in the Middle East in recent years. Some oil companies and major trading houses have suspended crude and fuel shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported, citing four trading sources, after security concerns hit the world’s most critical energy bottleneck.
Many residents in the region are reminded of the escalation The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, Desert Storm, or more The 1991 Persian Gulf Warand the invasion of Iraq in 2003. In 2025, Iran briefly targeted a US airbase in Qatar, but the conflict did not last long.
Saudi Arabia condemns Iran
The Saudi Arabian kingdom said Iran had hit Riyadh and its eastern region with strikes and warned it reserved the right to defend itself, including retaliating.
Saudi Arabia “condemned in the strongest terms the brazen and cowardly Iranian attacks targeting the Riyadh and Eastern Province regions, which were repelled,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
“In light of this unjustified aggression, the Kingdom declares that it will take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, citizens and residents, including the ability to respond to aggression.”
The statement came after Iran retaliated against US-Israeli attacks by launching missiles and drones at Israel and US military bases in the region.
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Iran has previously said it will retaliate against US bases. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates and the fifth US base in Bahrain were targeted. Iranian missile attacksThis was reported by the Iranian agency Fars.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq that he would use all of his defense and military capabilities within the legitimate right of self-defense, Reuters reported, citing a Telegram post.
UAE and Qatar condemn Iran’s retaliatory attacks
The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Iran’s missile attacks that targeted its territory and several countries in the region, calling them a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the UAE’s full solidarity with the affected countries and stressed that the security of the region is indivisible. It reiterated its rejection of using regional territories as arenas for settling disputes or expanding conflicts, and warned of the effects of such violations on regional and international security, global economic stability and energy security.
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UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed regional developments and the implications of the ongoing escalation for regional and international security and stability during a phone call with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, on Saturday, Gulf News reported.
During the call, the two leaders condemned Iran’s blatant attacks on the territory of the UAE, Qatar and a number of sister countries.
Iran will use all its defense and military capabilities within the legitimate right of self-defense.
Earlier, the US and Israel launched a major attack on Iran with President Donald Trump calling on the Iranian public to “take control of their destiny” by rising up against the Islamic leadership that has ruled the nation since 1979.
President Trump expresses frustration with Iran’s position in nuclear and missile talks. Trump said Washington’s goal was to “eliminate the immediate threats” from Iran.
OIC: Sets a dangerous precedent
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned Iran for what it called “targeting the sovereignty and territory of neighboring member states – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Qatar. The OIC said the attacks had escalated and posed a threat to the stability of the region.”
“The General Secretariat emphasizes that the continued violation of the sovereignty of member states and the principles of international law constitutes a dangerous precedent that undermines the foundations of international relations based on good neighborliness, mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs,” the OIC said in a statement.
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The OIC – the second largest intergovernmental body in the world after the UN, has 57 member states and is often referred to as the “collective voice of the Muslim world”. Founded in 1969, it aims to protect Muslim interests worldwide, with headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Muslim World League, an international Islamic NGO based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, also strongly condemned Iran’s aggression against neighboring Arab states.
