Cairo: Iran’s unprecedented threat on Saturday to evacuate three UAE ports ignited a barrage of missile and drone strikes on Gulf states on Sunday, triggering urgent intercepts by Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE as the Middle East war is into its third week.
The attacks marked Tehran’s first explicit warning to a non-US Gulf neighbour. Iran accused the US of using “ports, docks and hideouts” in the UAE to strike Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, though it offered no evidence. UAE officials and other Gulf states denied permitting their territory or airspace for anti-Iran operations.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has alleged US assaults on Kharg and Abu Musa islands were launched from “two locations in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah and a place ‘very close to Dubai.'” He deemed it “dangerous” and stated Iran “will try to be careful not to attack any populated area” there.
While US Central Command gave no response, UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash flatly rejected the accusations.
Meanwhile, Iranian strikes killed at least 12 civilians in Gulf states, mostly migrant workers. The International Committee of the Red Cross reports over 1,300 dead in Iran. Israel’s Magen David Adom counts 12 fatalities from Iranian missiles. US losses total 13 service members: seven in combat, six in an Iraq plane crash last week, according to reports.
In Lebanon, the fallout is severe with over 820 killed and 850,000 displaced, per the Health Ministry, from Israeli airstrikes and southern ground advances.
