DUBAI — Iran launched a new wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeting sites in several Gulf states on Thursday, officials from the affected countries and U.S. Central Command said, as the regional conflict entered its sixth week.
The strikes followed President Donald Trump's national address on Wednesday in which he stated that U.S. military objectives in Iran under Operation Epic Fury were nearing completion but that intense operations would continue for another two to three weeks. Iranian state media reported the attacks as a direct response to ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Gulf officials confirmed interceptions of projectiles aimed at military installations, airports and energy infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Details on the number of missiles and drones involved or the extent of damage remained limited and varied by source.
The escalation followed Iran's pattern of retaliation since the start of U.S.-Israeli operations on Feb. 28, 2026. Earlier waves of Iranian strikes on Gulf states hosting U.S. assets had targeted air bases and other facilities, with many projectiles intercepted by regional air defenses.
A senior Gulf security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said debris from intercepted missiles caused localized fires and disruptions at civilian-adjacent sites in at least two countries. “We continue to defend our territory and will take all necessary measures to protect our people and infrastructure,” the official said.
U.S. Central Command reported that coalition forces assisted in intercepting threats aimed at American personnel and assets in the region. Iranian military statements claimed successful hits on strategic targets, though independent verification was not immediately available.
Casualty figures from Thursday’s attacks were not fully confirmed. Previous Iranian retaliatory strikes on Gulf states since late February resulted in a small number of reported deaths and injuries, primarily from falling debris, according to officials in the UAE and other countries. Details on any new casualties remained unclear as assessments continued.
The attacks occurred amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf, where disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have already affected global oil flows. Gulf states have repeatedly called for de-escalation while maintaining defensive postures.
Iranian officials have vowed continued responses to what they describe as aggression by the United States and Israel. U.S. and Israeli statements have emphasized that operations target Iranian military capabilities and have not sought broader regional conflict.
As of late Thursday, air defense systems in the Gulf remained on high alert. No immediate reports emerged of direct retaliation from the targeted Gulf states against Iranian territory. Further updates on the military situation were expected from regional defense ministries and U.S. officials in the coming hours.
The United Nations Security Council has previously addressed related escalations, though no new emergency session had been confirmed following Thursday’s events.
