Iran struck U.S. military bases across the Middle East in a simultaneous barrage in response to U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Clashes between the United States and Israel and Iran are spreading across the Gulf.
According to AP and other foreign media, Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the 28th (local time) launched a large number of missiles and drones at major U.S. bases in the Middle East, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
Explosions were heard multiple times in Riyadh, the Saudi Arabian capital and a U.S. ally, as well as in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the UAE capitals. In Abu Dhabi, one person was killed by debris that fell in a residential area during a missile interception.
Qatar, home to Al Udeid, the largest U.S. base in the Middle East, said it successfully blocked multiple attacks toward its territory with Patriot air defense missiles. Jordan said its air defenses operated successfully, saying it shot down two ballistic missiles in its airspace.
In Kuwait, where U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) is stationed, air raid sirens and explosions caused confusion. The local military authorities said they intercepted detected missiles. Bahraini authorities also confirmed that U.S. Navy 5th Fleet facilities were targeted by airstrikes.
Loud blasts and smoke were also observed near the U.S. consulate and around the airport in Erbil, in Iraq's northern Kurdistan autonomous region.
The Revolutionary Guard named this counterstrike operation "Sadegh's Promise 4." In a statement titled "Relentless retaliation," the Guard said, "We will not tolerate any attack by the Zionist regime (Israel) and its patron, the United States," adding, "We consider all U.S. military bases and asset in the Middle East to be legitimate targets in response to aggression."
They also warned that neighboring Middle Eastern countries that provide airspace and territory for U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran could become targets of attack.
On social media, photos and videos spread of black smoke rising in cities of neighboring Middle Eastern countries targeted by Iran's retaliatory airstrikes.
The countries that were attacked laid responsibility for being drawn into the U.S.-Israel–Iran military clash on Iran and said they would respond firmly. Saudi Arabia, in a statement, condemned the attacks aimed at the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait in the strongest terms, calling them "barbaric."
The UAE Ministry of National Defense said, "This attack is a clear violation of national sovereignty and international law," adding, "We will firmly confront any attempt to undermine security." Bahrain called Iran's airstrikes a "treacherous attack," and the foreign ministries of Qatar and Kuwait also said they would take measures to defend their countries.