GCC air defenses intercept Iranian missiles as US–Israel conflict expands across Gulf region

2026-03-03 - 06:26

A general overview of the US–Israel conflict with Iran and the waves of ballistic missiles, drones, and other aerial attacks across the wider Middle East, targeting not only Israeli territory but also bases and locations in countries that host US forces. These retaliatory strikes have extended into the Gulf region, where several GCC states — including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others — reported detecting and intercepting inbound Iranian missiles and drones. Gulf air defense systems have played a central role in protecting their territories, with states like the UAE announcing the interception and destruction of large numbers of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones launched toward their airspace.