Iranian state television, citing the country’s military, said Iran had launched strikes on U.S. military facilities in the Persian Gulf, prompting shelter-in-place orders and airspace closures across several Gulf states. Officials in more than one country urged civilians to stay indoors and keep away from military installations as reports of explosions spread.
Reuters reported a powerful blast in Abu Dhabi. The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace after accounts that Iranian ballistic missiles had been directed at Al Dhafra Air Base, a major U.S. facility south of the capital. Large explosions were reported in the area, though independent confirmation of damage and casualties was not immediately available.
Qatar also shut its airspace. The Interior Ministry told residents to remain in place after a Patriot battery was said to have intercepted a missile aimed at Al Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. installation in the region and home to a major American command presence. Qatar’s Defense Ministry said several incoming attacks had been repelled and that the country was on high alert.
Al Jazeera reported loud explosions in Kuwait as well. Local authorities there likewise advised people to stay home and avoid travel to work while the situation was assessed.
The reports describe a rapidly unfolding episode in an already tense Gulf security environment, where U.S. air and naval facilities in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and neighboring states have long been viewed as potential targets in any wider confrontation with Iran. Governments stressed that information remained incomplete and subject to change. Further official statements from Tehran, Washington, and Gulf capitals were expected as air defenses, flight restrictions, and public-safety measures continued.
