Iran launched a new wave of missile and drone strikes across Gulf states on Sunday, March 8, targeting key infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain as the regional conflict entered its second week.
Authorities said Iranian strikes hit fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport and damaged a desalination plant in Bahrain. Kuwait’s interior ministry also confirmed that two border guards were killed “while performing their national duty”, though it did not provide further details about the circumstances.
Since the conflict began following large-scale strikes by United States and Israel against Iranian targets, neighbouring Gulf states have borne much of Tehran’s retaliation. According to an AFP tally, at least 16 people, including eight civilians, have been killed across the region. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that Tehran would continue responding if neighbouring countries allowed their territories to be used for attacks against Iran.
The previous day, Pezeshkian had apologised to Gulf states hosting US military bases for Iranian strikes on their territory. Several countries reported new attacks over the weekend, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, after explosions were heard earlier in Dubai and Manama.
Kuwait’s military said fuel tanks at the international airport were targeted by a drone strike. The Kuwait News Agency reported that a fire at the airport was quickly brought under control and that no significant injuries were recorded.
The military described the attack as “a direct targeting of vital infrastructure”. Authorities also said debris from interception operations damaged several civilian facilities.
Kuwait’s national oil company later announced a precautionary reduction in crude oil production as the country responded to several missile and drone threats. Officials also said the country’s main social security building was struck, causing material damage, and would remain closed to visitors.
In Bahrain, the interior ministry reported that an Iranian drone strike damaged a water desalination facility and accused Tehran of randomly targeting civilian infrastructure. Earlier, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck the United States’ Naval Support Activity Bahrain, claiming the base had been used in attacks against an Iranian desalination facility.
Bahrain’s national communication office later said the strike on the water plant had not disrupted water supplies or network capacity. Authorities also reported that falling missile debris injured three people and damaged a university building in the Muharraq area.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its air defence systems intercepted 33 drones launched toward the country, including one targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter and another aimed at the Shaybah Oil Field. Officials said no casualties or major damage were reported from the attempted strikes.
The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems were responding to incoming missile and drone threats, while Qatar reported that ten ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles fired from Iran the previous day were mostly intercepted.
Despite Iran’s earlier apology to neighbouring countries, Tehran’s judiciary chief warned that attacks would continue on sites in Gulf states that were “at the disposal of the enemy”. Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a televised address that the UAE was now in “a period of war” but would ultimately emerge stronger.
In Dubai, authorities confirmed that a Pakistani national was killed by debris from an aerial interception. The city briefly closed Dubai International Airport after an unidentified object was intercepted nearby.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion followed by smoke rising near an airport concourse. Officials later described the incident as “a minor incident resulting from the fall of debris after an interception” and said no further injuries were recorded.