Iran has launched a sweeping missile barrage targeting US military installations across the Gulf in retaliation for joint American-Israeli strikes under “Operation Roaring Lion,” dramatically widening the conflict and throwing multiple capitals into air-raid chaos.
Missiles and drones were reported over the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, with Tehran stating it targeted bases hosting American forces. In Abu Dhabi, falling debris from intercepted projectiles killed one Asian civilian, according to local authorities.
Loud explosions were also reported near Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and in areas surrounding Riyadh. Officials across the region said most incoming threats were intercepted by Patriot and allied air defense systems.
In Saudi Arabia, authorities condemned what they called Iran’s “blatant aggression,” pledging full military and logistical support to affected states, though Riyadh stopped short of confirming immediate counter-strikes. Regional security sources also indicated that damage assessments are ongoing following earlier US-Israeli strikes that reportedly hit sensitive Iranian leadership and military sites.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has vowed continued retaliation, framing the confrontation as a defensive response to Western aggression. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has intensified rhetoric, openly demanding regime change in Tehran — a stance likely to harden Iran’s posture further.
The rapid escalation has rattled global markets. Oil prices spiked again amid fears of supply disruption across the Gulf, while several international airlines suspended flights across Middle Eastern airspace. Security analysts warn that Iran-aligned proxies could expand the battlefield, including renewed threats to Red Sea shipping lanes and further instability in Iraq, where US bases remain exposed.
With missile exchanges now crossing multiple borders and civilian casualties confirmed, diplomats are racing to prevent a broader regional war that could draw in additional powers and destabilize energy markets worldwide.
