Several Gulf nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain, reported missile and drone attacks on their territories just hours after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. The ceasefire itself came barely an hour before President Donald Trump’s deadline to strike Iran was set to expire.
For weeks, Gulf countries had been dealing with repeated drone and missile attacks from Iran, largely in response to US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28. Iran had specifically targeted fossil fuel infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations and had closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz to shipping, a passage through which a fifth of global oil usually travels.
According to Al Jazeera, Iranian state television confirmed the missile and drone attacks, framing them as a response to the bombing of Iranian oil facilities, which they said also occurred on Wednesday. Iran also reported that an oil refinery on its Lavan Island was hit, with firefighters working to contain a fire there. No casualties were reported in that incident. Explosions were also reported on Iran’s Sirri Island, according to Mehr news agency.
The ceasefire is already under serious strain, but diplomats still hope it can hold
The UAE’s Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday that its air defenses were intercepting missiles and drones coming from Iran. People across the country heard explosions, which the ministry said were the sounds of air defense systems shooting down ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
Iran’s IRGC had previously threatened to destroy Abu Dhabi’s key infrastructure, and those threats now appear to have been acted upon. The Abu Dhabi Media Office confirmed that two Emiratis and one Indian national were injured, and operations at the Habshan gas complex were temporarily suspended after a fire broke out from falling debris.
Kuwait reported that its air defenses intercepted a wave of Iranian drones beginning around 8 AM local time (05:00 GMT). The Kuwaiti army said some drones were specifically targeting oil facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants. The Kuwaiti Defense Ministry said its systems responded to “intense hostile Iranian attacks” and dealt with a total of 28 drones.
In Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior reported Iranian attacks that injured two people. Houses in the Sitra area were damaged by shrapnel from the interception of an Iranian drone. Residents in the capital Manama heard explosions, and journalists on the ground reported seeing smoke rising from Sitra Island, which hosts Bahrain’s main energy facilities.
Civil defense crews managed to control a fire at a facility “targeted by the Iranian aggression,” though the exact location was not specified. Despite the immediate attacks, journalist Malik Traina, reporting from Kuwait City, suggested that these ceasefire violations might be a “loose chain” in the communication within Iran’s decentralized military operations.
He noted that both countries have consistently called for a diplomatic path forward. Notably, Iran has also been using propaganda animations to shape global opinion throughout the conflict, racking up millions of views on social media. Iran’s foreign minister said that “if attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.”
Tehran also stated that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz “will be possible through coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.” Global markets saw a boost following the ceasefire news, and oil prices fell below $100 a barrel. However, the ongoing attacks just hours into the truce raise serious questions about whether it can hold.
According to CNBC, there is also confusion regarding the ceasefire status in Lebanon. Iran and Pakistan claim Lebanon is part of the deal as well, but Israel has rejected it and continued its offensive in the country. Israeli forces have carried out a devastating bombing of Beirut, with authorities reporting hundreds of dead and wounded.
Published: Apr 8, 2026 10:45 am