An Iranian missile has struck the Al Minhad Air Base, a key military facility hosting United States, United Kingdom and Australian forces, as tensions escalate across the Gulf region.
The strike, which reportedly hit a road just outside the base, caused a small fire and minor damage near an accommodation block and medical centre but resulted in no casualties. Explosions were heard in the vicinity of the base, which serves as a major transit hub for Western military operations in the Middle East.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that a projectile had impacted near the base. “The Iranian regime is engaging in random attacks right across the region. We know that is the case,” he said, adding that it remains unclear whether the base itself was the intended target.
Australia’s Defence Department said: “Defence’s focus is on ensuring the safety and security of our people and we will continue to revise force protection measures as the situation in the Middle East evolves.”
The incident comes amid a wider wave of attacks across the Gulf, with reports of strikes or attempted strikes in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Missile alerts were later triggered in Dubai, with interceptor systems activated as explosions were heard overhead.
Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted a ballistic missile targeting the Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts US forces, as well as a drone aimed at Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, home to multiple foreign embassies including that of the United States.
The escalation follows ongoing hostilities involving Iran, the United States and Israel, with Tehran targeting military installations and energy infrastructure across neighbouring states. Iranian authorities have also continued to assert control over the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.
Iran has indicated that while the waterway remains open, access is being restricted for the United States and its allies, intensifying concerns over global energy markets and supply chains.
The widening conflict has already prompted major energy firms to scale back operations, while oil prices have surged, raising fears of broader economic consequences, including higher costs for consumers and disruptions to global trade.