Military & Defense

Iran fired missiles into at least half a dozen countries. Here's how the fights played out.

Grey smoke in a blue-colored sky above tan-colored buildings
A smoke plume rises over Abu Dhabi from the site of an Iranian missile strike. AFP via Getty Images
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Iran launched missile strikes targeting at least six countries in retaliation for the Saturday morning attack by the US and Israel.

Multiple countries across the Middle East reported Iranian bombardments, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, saying that it had launched attacks on US military bases.

Iran said it targeted at least four bases hosting US forces in the Middle East. Details about the scale and impact of the strikes are still emerging. Multiple nations said they intercepted many of the attacks. Some have reported damage, injuries, and at least one death from debris. At least one US base appears to have been hit.

Bahrain's state news agency said that the US Navy's 5th Fleet service center was the target of a missile attack and provided no details on the impact. Iran also said it targeted the base. The agency added that Bahrain's defense forces said their air defense systems successfully intercepted multiple missiles from Iran.

Qatar's defense ministry said it successfully intercepted three waves of attacks targeting multiple areas of the country, and that all missiles were intercepted before they reached the country's territory, the state-run Qatar News Agency reported.

Qatar hosts Al Udeid, the biggest US base in the region. Iran said it targeted the base, without giving details on whether it was successful. The US has not confirmed an attack. Qatar condemned what it said were Iranian strikes on US bases in Qatar and neighboring countries.

Jordanian state media reported that the country's air defense systems successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles that targeted the country.

Grey smoke in a blue-colored sky above tan-colored buildings
A smoke plume rises over Abu Dhabi from the site of an Iranian missile strike.  AFP via Getty Images

The country's Public Security Directorate said there have been 12 separate incidents of falling debris across the country, causing some damage but with no reported civilian casualties.

The Muwaffaq Al-Salti Air Base in Jordan, which is key for the country's air force and also has a US military presence, was targeted, Iranian state media reported. It did not give any details on whether the reported attack was successful, and the US has not confirmed any attack.

The United Arab Emirates' defense ministry said it intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles across multiple attacks. It said one person was killed by falling debris in Abu Dhabi, the country's capital.

It shared images of what appear to be downed Iranian missiles.

It said that missile debris also damaged some infrastructure. Explosions were also reported in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Al Dhafra Air Base, just south of Abu Dhabi, hosts US forces. The IRGC said that the base was targeted, which has not been confirmed.

The Government of Dubai Media Office said four people were injured and taken to the hospital after an "incident" in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area, a part of the city with many luxury hotels on artificial islands. It said there was a fire that is now under control.

A plume of grey smoke in a misty blue sky, over a city skyline.
A plume of smoke rises over Tehran, Iran.  Mahsa / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images

Kuwait's army said its air defenses intercepted missiles that were detected in the country's airspace.

The country hosts the US military at its Al Salem Air Base, another base the IRGC said was targeted. The official spokesman for the ministry of defense said that shrapnel from the interception of drones and ballistic missiles caused minor injuries to three members of the armed forces and some material damage.

Kuwait's Public Authority for Civil Aviation also said that a drone targeted Kuwait International Airport. It said several employees received minor injuries, and there was some damage to its Terminal 1.

Israel reported multiple missile barrages from Iran, but has not reported any deaths or major damage to the country.

Successful attacks have been reported in Iran, and its people are trying to flee the capital city, Tehran.

Iranian officials said an Israeli attack on a girls' elementary school in southern Iran killed at least 85 people. The Iranian Red Crescent humanitarian group told the BBC that 201 people had been killed in Iran. Israel has released video footage of strikes in Western Iran against missile launchers and other targets.

US embassies across the region have advised Americans to shelter in place.

Attacks and counter-attacks are still ongoing. US President Donald Trump said that he would destroy Iran's missile program and navy and make sure that the country can "never" have a nuclear weapon.

"The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost, and we may have casualties. That often happens in war," Trump said in a statement. "But we're doing this not for now — we're doing this for the future. And it's a noble mission."

Flights have been cancelled across the region with multiple countries closing their airspaces, creating major disruption in one of the world's busiest flight routes.

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Sinéad Baker's face on a grey background
Sinéad Baker
Sinéad Baker is a Military and Defense Correspondent based in Business Insider's London bureau, writing about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and NATO actions.Sinéad most often covers soldiers' experiences, military strategy, battlefield developments, weapons systems, the defense industry's response, and the impact on NATO and European security, and geopolitical decisions that surround the Ukraine war. She has reported from NATO’s frontlines and around Europe,  has interviewed multiple prime ministers and defense ministers, has appeared on BBC News and The Guardian's politics podcast, and has been cited by Congressional hearings.Sinéad has also extensively covered US politics and previously led Business Insider's breaking news coverage from London.Sinéad previously completed a master's degree in investigative journalism at City, University of London, and has written for The Guardian, The Observer, and TheJournal.ie. Sinéad is the former editor of the multi-award-winning The University Times in Dublin.Expertise
  • Experiences of soldiers in Ukraine, including battlefield developments and tactics
  • Western military responses to the war, and lessons they should learn
  • New weaponry built for and in response to the war 
Email Sinéad at sbaker@jkmperu.com or find her on X.