Iran launches missile, drone attacks on Gulf nations after U.S. strike

Iran launched a significant retaliatory strike against three Persian Gulf nations early on July 12, deploying a barrage of missiles and drones. This action follows a third round of retaliatory airstrikes by the U.S. against Iran. The air defense systems in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qatar were fully activated, with widespread reports of air raid sirens and intense explosions across multiple locations.

According to reports from multiple Persian Gulf countries cited by Agence France-Presse, the retaliatory operation commenced immediately after U.S. airstrikes. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated an asymmetric response, targeting surrounding Arab nations that host U.S. military bases or provide logistical support. This escalation comes after the U.S. bombed Iranian commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of July 11.

In Qatar's capital, Doha, a loud explosion was heard, prompting the government to issue an urgent national security alert, urging citizens to seek shelter. The Qatari military later confirmed the interception of missiles. Simultaneously, Bahrain's Interior Ministry announced that air raid sirens were blaring near the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet. In Abu Dhabi, the UAE's air defense forces confirmed they were engaged in intense combat with incoming missile and drone swarms.

While the White House has not yet issued an official statement following Iran's latest airstrikes, U.S. President Trump had previously warned that the ceasefire and negotiation efforts between the U.S. and Iran were over. The targeting of Qatar's capital and its natural gas facilities, especially given Qatar's crucial role as a mediator in talks for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, signifies a severe escalation. The situation in the Persian Gulf appears to have returned to a path of full-scale conflict.