Saudi Arabia Criticizes Iranian Military Actions Targeting Gulf States

Saudi Arabia‘s Foreign Ministry sharply denounced Iranian strikes against five Gulf nations — the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Kuwait — in a statement released Saturday.

Explosions were reported across parts of the Persian Gulf on Saturday after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched multiple waves of regional attacks, prompting several countries to activate air defense systems.

Air raid sirens sounded in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain in the early hours, news agencies reported.

Iran’s Guards said they had begun an operation dubbed “True Promise 4.”

In Qatar, a government official told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that air defenses intercepted an Iranian missile, adding that US-made Patriot systems destroyed the projectile.

Qatar hosts the Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the region. Qatar’s Interior Ministry later said the attack caused no damage.

Bahrain said a facility linked to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet had been targeted in a missile attack, according to a statement carried by the country’s national communications center, without giving further details.

Kuwait’s military said it had dealt with missiles in its airspace, state news agency KUNA reported.

Jordan’s military said it had shot down two ballistic missiles targeting the country.

Residents in Abu Dhabi told AFP they heard loud explosions, and the UAE state news agency said one person was killed after Emirati forces intercepted Iranian missiles.

The UAE condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and international law and said it reserved the right to respond.

Explosions were also reported in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, according to AFP. Saudi authorities did not immediately comment.