Iran Launches Missiles and Drones at Gulf States; UAE, Saudi Air Defenses Intercept

Iran launched waves of missiles and drones across the Gulf, prompting multiple countries to activate air-defence systems and report interceptions.

“The Latest: Israel hammers Beirut and Tehran as Iranian president apologizes to Gulf neighbors Published Friday, March 6, 2026 | 9:31 p”

Las Vegas Sun

Governments from the United Arab Emirates to Kuwait and Bahrain said they detected or intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones targeting airspace, military sites and infrastructure.

Las Vegas Sun

Residents across the Gulf reported seeing missiles and drones cross the night sky, often followed by bright flashes from air-defence interceptions.

Saudi authorities publicly reported shooting down several incoming drones, including four over the Shaybah oil field.

Gulf states broadly described intercepting multiple ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.

The strikes and subsequent interceptions were visible to the public and caused disruption at civilian infrastructure and transportation hubs.

Authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi warned residents not to film or post footage of interceptions, saying such material could reveal sensitive operational details.

Wired

Operations at Dubai International were disrupted: passengers were moved into train tunnels amid blasts and alerts, and flights were affected.

Iran framed the attacks as retaliation for strikes it blamed on the United States and Israel, saying they were in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes that Tehran says killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

“The Latest: Israel hammers Beirut and Tehran as Iranian president apologizes to Gulf neighbors Published Friday, March 6, 2026 | 9:31 p”

Las Vegas Sun

Iranian leaders also reacted politically, with Iran's president rejecting a U.S. demand for "unconditional surrender" even as Tehran issued an apology for its attacks on neighboring Gulf states.

The regional military exchanges occurred alongside continued airstrikes by Israel and the United States.

Officials reported mounting casualties.

Wired

Las Vegas Sun's update noted that 'Israel and the United States continued airstrikes against Iran; Israeli warplanes struck targets in Beirut and Tehran'.

Las Vegas Sun gave an officials' tally of deaths as 'at least 1,230 killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and about a dozen in Israel'.

Wired likewise emphasised wide-ranging air-defence responses against missiles and drones targeting military and infrastructure sites, underlining the broader regional escalation.