Explosions were heard across Doha, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates on Sunday as Iran launched missiles and drones against Gulf states following a third wave of United States strikes on Iranian military targets.
Air defence systems were activated across the region, with Qatar saying it intercepted incoming fire and the UAE reporting operations against missile and drone threats. Bahrain sounded air-raid sirens and urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations, while Kuwait’s military also engaged incoming projectiles.
The escalation followed an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel caught fire, suffered extensive damage to its engine room and was left unable to continue its journey. One civilian crew member was reported missing, while the remaining crew abandoned the ship.
The United States responded by striking about 140 Iranian targets, marking its largest operation against the country during the latest cycle of hostilities. The targets included missile and drone launch sites, ammunition storage facilities, communications infrastructure and equipment linked to attacks on commercial shipping.
US Central Command said the operation was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to target civilian mariners and vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes were carried out under orders from President Donald Trump, who has demanded unrestricted passage through the waterway.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the container ship had ignored instructions to alter its course and had travelled along an unauthorised route. It also alleged that the vessel had switched off tracking systems, describing the action against it as a warning shot that forced the ship to stop.
Maritime authorities reported that the attack occurred about nine nautical miles east of Oman. The vessel had been sailing close to the Omani coast, a route increasingly used by ships attempting to avoid Iranian territorial waters while entering or leaving the Gulf.
Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice and warned that additional military bases in the region could be attacked if strikes on Iran continued. The Revolutionary Guard said several ships had disregarded Iranian navigation instructions and insisted that vessels must follow routes approved by Tehran.
The closure has intensified pressure on global energy markets and shipping networks. Before the conflict began on February 28, roughly one-fifth of internationally traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait. Daily vessel movements once averaged between 125 and 140, but traffic has fallen sharply as shipowners reassess security and insurance risks.
Only a handful of tankers have passed through the route on some days, while other vessels have switched off their automatic identification systems to make their positions harder to track. Insurers have advised some shipping companies to suspend voyages, and war-risk premiums have risen as attacks on commercial ships multiply.
The latest maritime incident came after three tankers were struck during the week. One of them, the Marshall Islands-flagged LNG carrier Al Rekayyat, remained stranded near Oman after a projectile caused a fire in its engine room. Its cargo was reported to be secure, with no injuries or environmental damage confirmed.
Iranian attacks on Gulf states have increasingly focused on locations hosting United States forces or defence infrastructure. Bahrain is home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base. Kuwait also accommodates American military facilities, and the UAE has maintained close defence ties with Washington.
No immediate casualty figures were released from Sunday’s attacks on Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait or the UAE. Authorities issued emergency alerts as interceptions took place, and residents in Doha reported hearing several blasts before receiving missile warnings on their mobile phones.
The exchanges have further weakened efforts to restore an interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araqchi held talks in Oman on Saturday over possible arrangements for safe navigation through the strait. Oman said discussions would continue at political and technical levels, but no agreement was announced on unrestricted passage.
Diplomats from Qatar and Pakistan have also been involved in attempts to reopen negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Iran has insisted that its security requirements must govern shipping through the waterway, while the United States maintains that the strait is an international route that cannot be placed under unilateral control.
