Abu Dhabi and Bahrain struck by missiles as Iran hits Gulf bases after US-Israel “Operation Epic Fury” hits Tehran

Shrapnel from an Iranian missile attack on the capital of the United Arab Emirates killed one person on Saturday, state media reported, marking the first known fatality in Iran’s counterattack after the United States and Israel launched a major airstrike campaign targeting Iran.

The state-run WAM news agency confirmed the death. The strike came as the confrontation spread beyond Iran and Israel and across the Gulf.

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Iran-Israel War reaches Abu Dhabi

Loud booms were heard in parts of Abu Dhabi on Saturday, according to five witnesses, including two Reuters correspondents, after the U.S. and Israel launched attacks against Iran.

One witness told Reuters she heard five booms in rapid succession that caused windows in a house near Abu Dhabi's Corniche to vibrate. Other witnesses in the Al Dhafra and Bateen areas also reported loud booms.

Some residents of Abu Dhabi received phone alerts instructing them to shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows due to a missile threat.

The Embassy of India in the United Arab Emirates issued an urgent advisory in view of the current regional situation. It asked all Indian nationals in the UAE to avoid unnecessary travel, take due care, remain vigilant, and follow safety guidelines and advisories issued by the UAE authorities and the Embassy.

“The Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai are continuing to function normally and will issue updates as necessary,” it said, urging Indian nationals in the UAE to contact toll free and WhatsApp numbers in case of any emergency.

Iran-Israel tensions in Doha

As tensions escalated, the Embassy of India in Doha issued what it called an “important advisory”, asking all Indian nationals in Qatar to take due care and follow news and advisories issued by the Embassy and local authorities.

“In view of the current regional situation, all Indian nationals in Qatar are advised to take due care, follow news and advisories as and when issued by the Embassy and local authorities. Our Embassy is continuing to function as usual,” the advisory read.

Earlier, the Embassy of India in Tehran advised all Indian nationals in Iran to exercise utmost caution, avoid unnecessary movements and remain indoors as far as possible due to the developing situation.

Also Read: Israel attacks Iran with US' help amid nuclear talks

The United States and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran on Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump called on the Iranian people to “take over your government” — an extraordinary appeal that suggested the allies could be seeking to end the country’s theocracy after decades of tensions.

The Pentagon said on Saturday that the United States military has given its attacks on Iran the name “Operation Epic Fury.”

Israel, with support from the US, carried out a pre-emptive military strike on Iran.

The first strikes appeared to target the compound housing Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in downtown Tehran. It was not immediately clear if he was present at the time. Smoke was seen rising from the capital.

“For 47 years, the Iranian regime has chanted Death to America and waged an unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder, targeting the United States, our troops and the innocent people in many, many countries,” Trump said in a video posted on social media seeking to justify the attacks. He urged Iranians to take cover during the strikes, then added: “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.”

The conflict quickly widened. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said it responded by launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it would bring down Iranian fire.

Iran-Israel War: Bahrain target

Bahrain said a missile attack targeted the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom. Witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to U.S. Army Central. Explosions were also heard in Qatar.

Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their airspace, and sirens sounded in Jordan.

The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior Houthi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement from the Houthi leadership.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — IRGC — targeted several U.S. bases in Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported, signalling a coordinated retaliatory operation following Israeli-U.S. strikes on Iranian targets.

Also Read: Bahrain says US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters hit in 'missile attack'

Iran’s Foreign Ministry issued a defiant statement saying the country “will not hesitate” in its response. In a statement posted on X, the ministry said: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy's military assault.”

Tensions have risen in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region. Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme and saw an opportunity while the country faced growing dissent after nationwide protests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who considers Iran his country’s archenemy, said the joint attack was meant to “remove an existential threat posed” by Iran.

“Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” Netanyahu said.

Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence sites, according to an official briefed on the operation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss non-public details.

Iran had sought to avoid war but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues such as its long-range missile programme or support for armed groups including Hamas and Hezbollah.

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting sites that America bombed during a 12-day war. Satellite images analysed by The Associated Press have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Iran is trying to assess and possibly recover material there.

Iran currently maintains a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile programme, restricting their range to 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles). That range covers the entire Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. There is no public evidence that Iran is seeking intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has criticised its space programme as potentially giving it that capability in the future.

(with inputs from AP)