Tensions in the Middle East escalated on Saturday after a joint US-Israel strike on Iran triggered retaliatory missile attacks across the Gulf region.
Explosions were reported near US military facilities in Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. In Bahrain, authorities confirmed that the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet was targeted. Sirens were also heard in parts of Israel as Iran launched missiles, intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system.
Airspace has been shut in several countries amid fears of a wider regional conflict. Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the attacks as a violation of international law and warned that US bases are now considered legitimate targets.
Key US military installations in the region include Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, and Ain Al Asad Air Base in Iraq. These bases could face further threats as tensions continue to rise.
