Retaliatory Iranian attacks hit Gulf states after US-Israeli assault

On 28 February, 2026, Iran launched a massive retaliatory strike against US military assets across several Arab states following a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran.

This escalation follows reports from the Iranian government and news agencies confirming the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during the initial US-Israeli strikes, says Al Jazeera.

In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that all Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East are now legitimate targets.

The IRGC claimed the strikes were carried out "by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles" and added, "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated."

Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Ghanbari said, "Iran has the right to defend itself and regrets any humanitarian loss caused by the current military escalation."

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated in a letter to the UN that Iran would "continue to exercise its right of self-defence decisively and without hesitation until the aggression ceases fully and unequivocally."

Bahrain

Missiles targeted the headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet in Manama. Reports indicate that at least one Iranian Shahed drone struck a tower block near the headquarters, and several residential buildings were hit, prompting emergency rescue operations.

The Bahraini government called the strike a "treacherous attack" and "a blatant violation of the kingdom's sovereignty and security." Shaikh Abdullah bin Rashid Al Khalifa, the Bahraini ambassador to the US, also described the strikes as a "blatant violation of sovereignty."

United Arab Emirates

In Abu Dhabi, at least one person was killed after intercepted missiles fell. In Dubai, an "incident" at the Palm Jumeirah resulted in a fire and four injuries.

Kuwait

Ballistic missiles targeted the Ali al-Salem Air Base, though Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted them. Additionally, a drone strike at Kuwait International Airport caused material damage and minor injuries to employees.

Qatar

While Qatar's Defense Ministry claimed to have thwarted all incoming attacks, reports indicate an early warning radar in northern Qatar was hit. Residents in Doha reported hearing at least a dozen explosions, likely from Patriot defense missiles.

The Qatari Foreign Ministry stated that the targeting of Qatar "cannot be accepted under any justification or pretext."

Iraq

Erbil International Airport was targeted by drones twice on Saturday. Furthermore, strikes hit the Jurf al-Nasr area and a headquarters for the Kataeb Hezbollah group, which has since warned, "we will soon begin attacking American bases in response to their aggression."

Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Foreign Ministry confirmed that attacks targeting Riyadh and the eastern region were repelled. Officials said the attacks "cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way" and occurred despite Iran knowing the Kingdom "would not allow its airspace and territory to be used to target Iran."

Oman

Oman was the only member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) spared from the strikes. This was primarily due to its long-standing role as a diplomatic liaison and mediator between Iran and other nations.

Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi urged the United States "not to get sucked in further" into the conflict, explicitly telling Washington, "This is not your war." He also noted via social media, "I am dismayed. Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this." Albusaidi described previous peace talks as now being "dead and buried."

According to the sources, Oman's exemption resulted from its central role in negotiations, recent diplomatic breakthroughs, and its public stance against escalation. Oman has long served as a key intermediary in indirect talks between the US and Iran held in both Oman and Geneva. Just hours before the US-Israeli attacks, Albusaidi had voiced optimism for peace, noting that Iran had agreed during these talks to stop stockpiling enriched uranium.

Transportation and economic impact

The conflict has caused immediate regional disruption. Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE temporarily closed their airspace. Furthermore, there are reports that the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil exports, may be closed to sea vessels.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz poses a severe risk to the global economy primarily because it is a "key oil export route" that connects the world's largest Gulf oil producers to international markets.

The specific risks identified or implied by the sources include:

• Disruption of global energy supplies: The Strait is the primary conduit for oil exports from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates. Any closure or restriction prevents these nations from reaching the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, which are the gateways to global consumers.

• Halt of maritime trade: Sea vessels operating in the Gulf have already reportedly received messages regarding the closure of the Strait from the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency. This suggests an immediate cessation of commercial shipping activity in one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints.

• Regional economic instability: The conflict has already led to the temporary closure of airspace in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE, further hampering regional transportation and logistics.

• Collapse of diplomatic and economic agreements: Prior to the current escalation, there were hopes for regional stability; for instance, Iran had recently agreed during talks in Oman to stop stockpiling enriched uranium. The outbreak of violence and the subsequent closure of vital trade routes indicate that these diplomatic breakthroughs—which often underpin market stability—are now "dead and buried."

Journalist Zein Basravi of Al Jazeera noted that since the US and Israel fired first, "everything is now probably fair game" as far as Iran is concerned.

While the sources focus on the immediate military and logistical aspects of the closure, the role of the Strait as a "critical route for global oil exports" implies that a prolonged shutdown would likely lead to significant spikes in global energy prices and widespread supply chain disruptions.