By Harold Hutchison
The Iranian regime launched missiles and drones against American and Israeli targets Saturday, with the Islamic republic’s Foreign Ministry vowing the United States and Israel would “regret their criminal act.”
Attacks on Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar were intercepted, while air defenses at bases in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan were strengthened by the United States prior to the start of strikes.
Three people were killed and at least 11 injured when Iran attacked Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports in the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for that country hosting U.S. bases.
The BBC reports that
Across the Gulf, Iran has used ballistic missiles and drones to launch large-scale attacks on US allies and assets, after Iran’s supreme leader was killed in the ongoing US-Israel air offensive launched on Saturday morning.
Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait – all home to US military bases – said they had intercepted missiles fired towards them, but falling debris appeared to have caused widespread damage.
“I probably saw about 15 missiles being launched from behind my house yesterday,” Dubai resident Becky Williams told the BBC, referring to missiles fired by UAE authorities aimed at intercepting incoming Iranian projectiles. “You can hear the interceptions happening in the air.”
On the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s luxury man-made archipelago, the five-star Fairmont The Palm hotel was struck by a large explosion on Saturday afternoon. Video verified by the BBC shows a fire raging as black smoke rises into the sky.
President Donald Trump announced the United States military commenced Operation Epic Fury alongside Israel’s Operation Lion’s Roar in a video posted to Truth Social early Saturday morning. The Iranian Foreign Ministry demanded that the United Nations and other countries intervene on its behalf in a lengthy statement posted to X as the regime launched missiles at Israel and American bases in the region in retaliation. (RELATED: Donald Trump Awards Medal Of Honor To Two Heroes During State Of Union)
“The Islamic Republic of Iran recalls the grave duty of the United Nations and its Security Council to take immediate action to confront the violation of international peace and security due to the clear military aggression of the United States and the Zionist regime against Iran, and calls on the UN Secretary-General, the President of the Security Council, and the members of this Council to fulfill their duty as soon as possible,” the statement reads.
“All member states of the United Nations, especially regional and Islamic countries, members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and all states that feel responsible for international peace and security, are expected to firmly condemn this act of aggression and take urgent and collective action to confront it, which has undoubtedly exposed the peace and security of the region and the world to an unprecedented threat,” it continues.
Military operations are expected to continue over at least the next coming days; the June 2025 U.S. strike on Iran’s suspected nuclear enrichment infrastructure involved a roughly 37-hour round trip by B-2 stealth bombers launched from the U.S.
