According to military reports from Gulf countries hosting US forces including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan, since the joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran last Saturday (28th), these five nations have collectively shot down over 1,500 Iranian missiles and drones, including 400 ballistic missiles.
The United Arab Emirates has faced the brunt of Iran’s most significant firepower in missile and drone attacks. The country’s military has previously engaged in battles with Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
While data is still being updated and there are discrepancies in the timelines reported by various sources, as of 6 p.m. Eastern Time on March 1st (2:30 a.m. on March 2nd Iran time), the UAE Defense Ministry reported intercepting 165 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles, and over 540 drones.
The Ministry reported that debris from intercepted missiles fell into multiple residential areas in Abu Dhabi, resulting in at least one civilian fatality. Additionally, the Iranian attacks have led to at least three fatalities within the UAE.
The UAE Defense Ministry condemned the Iranian attack as a “blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law” and warned that they would “take all necessary measures to protect territory, citizens, and residents’ safety, defending national sovereignty, security, and stability.”
On March 1st, the Bahraini military reported that its air defense system intercepted at least 45 missiles and 9 drones, targeting the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama and the British naval base.
There were no casualties reported at the US and UK airbases. The British military mentioned downing a drone in Manama. British Prime Minister Stamer stated on March 1st that the UK had granted the US request to use military facilities in the Middle East, including the large airbase in Cyprus, to target Iranian missile launch sites.
The Kuwaiti military reported that within the initial 24 to 36 hours of the US-Israeli coalition strikes on Iran, nearly 100 missiles and close to 300 drones launched by Iran were shot down.
The primary target of Iran’s attacks was the Ali Al-Salem airbase hosting US and other international forces. On February 28th, Iranian drones also targeted an international airport in Kuwait, resulting in minor injuries and “limited damage.”
However, Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani informed the Italian news agency ANSA that the Kuwait International Airport runway suffered severe damage.
The Qatari Defense Ministry stated that they had shot down 65 ballistic missiles and at least 12 drones. In a statement, the Qatari Defense Ministry mentioned, “We are fully capable of protecting the country, resisting any external threats,” and emphasized that the country remains “safe and stable,” even though its airspace was temporarily closed to commercial flights.
Additionally, two ballistic missiles hit the US Al Udeid airbase, causing minor damage and no casualties, while a drone attack caused a warning radar facility to go offline.
Most of the US Air Force personnel and equipment, including KC-135 tankers, C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft, and C-130 Hercules transport planes, are usually stationed at the Al Udeid airbase. However, a few days before the attack, they were moved to military bases in the Mediterranean region and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.
The Jordanian Armed Forces reported on March 1st that they had successfully intercepted 13 ballistic missiles and shot down nearly 50 drones attacking the Muwaffaq Salti airbase.
In a statement, the Jordanian Armed Forces mentioned, “Today the forces intercepted 49 drones and ballistic missiles attacking Jordanian territory,” adding, “Jordan’s air defense system successfully intercepted 13 ballistic missiles, and the rest of the drones were shot down.”
Reports indicate that Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Syria have also been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks.
At the Harir airbase in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdish Autonomous Region of Iraq, US forces were also targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, resulting in minor damage and no casualties. The British military reported downing multiple Iranian-launched missiles in Iraq.