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Iran has dramatically heightened tensions in the Middle East with a fresh wave of missile and drone strikes targeting US military installations across the Persian Gulf region. Iranian state television, citing military sources, announced the operation, claiming successful hits on several American-linked bases. The development has triggered urgent safety measures across Gulf states, with local authorities urging citizens to remain indoors and avoid military zones.
Reports indicate that Iran fired ballistic missiles at the strategically vital Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, resulting in powerful explosions near Abu Dhabi. The UAE has closed its airspace in response, while air defense systems, including Patriot and THAAD batteries, engaged incoming threats. Satellite imagery and local accounts confirm large blasts and visible damage at the facility, which hosts US, UAE, and French forces and serves as a key hub for reconnaissance and combat aircraft.
Qatar also faced direct threats. The country’s Interior Ministry issued a shelter-in-place order as a Patriot missile system reportedly intercepted a projectile aimed at Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest US facilities in the region. Qatari authorities subsequently closed the nation’s airspace to commercial traffic.
These latest attacks fit into a broader pattern of Iranian retaliation amid the ongoing 2026 conflict. US and allied defenses have intercepted many projectiles, yet multiple waves have caused confirmed damage to hangars, infrastructure, and assets across at least 15 American sites in the Gulf and beyond. Casualty figures remain unclear, though earlier strikes in the campaign have resulted in US service member deaths and injuries.
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