By Open Chronicle Staff with Agencies
Saturday, February 28, 2026
ABU DHABI / MANAMA — The Middle East has spiraled into a multi-front conflict as Iran launched a wave of retaliatory ballistic missile strikes targeting United States military installations across the Persian Gulf early Saturday. The barrage follows a massive joint “preemptive” operation by the U.S. and Israel against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.
In the United Arab Emirates, the high-stakes conflict turned deadly when at least one civilian, identified as an Asian national, was killed in Abu Dhabi. While Emirati officials confirmed that their Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles aimed at Al Dhafra Air Base, falling debris caused significant damage in residential districts, including Saadiyat Island and Khalifa City. Al Dhafra serves as a vital hub for the U.S. Air Force’s 380th Expeditionary Wing.
“The State of the UAE reserves the right to respond to these flagrant violations of sovereignty,” the Emirati government said in a statement, shortly before announcing a temporary closure of the nation’s airspace.
Multi-Base Barrage
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the operation, asserting that all regional bases assisting “Zionist aggression” are legitimate targets. The strikes hit near or at several key locations:
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Bahrain: Video footage verified by international agencies showed a ballistic missile impacting near the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama. While U.S. officials reported no casualties, smoke was seen billowing from the Juffair district.
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Qatar: Air defense systems over Doha intercepted at least two missiles headed for Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East. Residents reported hearing successive waves of blasts as Patriot interceptors engaged the threats.
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Kuwait: The Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts U.S. and Italian personnel, was also targeted. Italian officials reported “significant damage” to a runway, though no injuries were confirmed.
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Jordan & Iraq: Authorities in Amman reported downing two missiles, while rockets were intercepted over the U.S. Consulate in Erbil.
Chaos in Dubai
In Dubai, the world’s most populous Emirati city, panic set in as the iconic Burj Khalifa was reportedly evacuated following a series of explosions heard across the skyline. Residents described seeing “fireballs” streak across the sky, followed by thick trails of smoke. Dubai International Airport has suspended all flight operations, leaving thousands of travelers stranded as airlines across the globe cancel Middle East routes.
A Region on the Brink
The escalation comes hours after U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced “Operation Roaring Lion” (known as “Operation Epic Fury” in Washington), a coordinated strike intended to neutralize Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.
As Tehran vows a “historic lesson” for its adversaries, the involvement of Gulf nations, which have long attempted to balance relations between Washington and Tehran, threatens to draw the entire region into a total war.