Explosions reported in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain as Iran retaliates after US, Israel attacks 

Tehran (Web Desk/Agencies): Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on Saturday that it had initiated a first round of retaliatory missile and drone strikes against Israel, warning that all US military bases and interests in the region were within Tehran’s reach, according to an Iranian official speaking to international media outlet.

Reports of explosions emerged from Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar. Bahrain confirmed that a missile struck the service center of the US Fifth Fleet, with video footage showing thick grey smoke rising near the island’s coastline as alarms blared.

In Abu Dhabi, UAE, multiple residents reported loud detonations. One witness told an international media outlet that five rapid blasts caused windows near the Corniche to rattle. Others in the Al Dhafra and Bateen districts also reported hearing significant explosions. The UAE reported one fatality caused by falling debris during the attack.

Qatari authorities said that all incoming missiles had been intercepted. A state official, speaking anonymously to AFP, stated that Iran’s missile had been shot down by U.S.-supplied Patriot defense systems. Qatar hosts the Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the region.

In Israel, air raid sirens sounded over Jerusalem following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in the day. The Israeli military reported detecting missiles launched from Iranian territory. Explosions were also reported near Kharg Island, a critical hub through which roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian media reported blasts in several cities, including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah, and Tabriz. International sources indicated that Iranian officials were the primary targets of the initial strikes.
The attacks mark a sharp escalation in regional tensions, diminishing prospects for a diplomatic solution to the longstanding U.S.-Iran dispute over nuclear development. Tehran has repeatedly denied any intention to develop nuclear weapons, while Israel has insisted that any US-Iran negotiations must include restrictions on both nuclear and missile programs.

Iran confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei had been moved to a secure location, and state media reported that the President remains safe. US officials said air and naval strikes are ongoing and targeted solely military installations.

Prior to the retaliation, Iranian authorities warned of a “crushing” response. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a pre-emptive strike to neutralize threats against Israel. Officials said the attack had been planned months in advance and coordinated with the U.S., which has prepared several days of military action against Iran.

Telecommunications in Iran were disrupted, with mobile lines cut and internet services weakened in parts of Tehran. Digital monitoring group Netblocks reported a near-total media blackout across the country.

Israel has responded by closing schools and workplaces except for essential services, restricting public airspace, and instructing citizens to avoid airports. Israeli forces have deployed widely, with air strikes on Iran expected to continue as needed.

The current escalation follows a 12-day air campaign between Israel and Iran in June, amid renewed US-Iran negotiations earlier this year aimed at resolving the nuclear dispute diplomatically. Tehran has expressed willingness to discuss limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief but has refused to link this to its missile program.

In June, Iran retaliated against US action by firing missiles at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US facility in the Middle East.