Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan on Alert
In Qatar, military officials said Iranian missiles were intercepted before reaching Qatari territory following joint defensive coordination. Several waves of explosions were heard in Doha as air defenses engaged.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Embassy in Doha urged American citizens to take shelter. While many residents initially continued daily activities — with supermarkets open and beachgoers heading to the waterfront — streets began to empty after government-issued shelter-in-place alerts were pushed to mobile phones.
Kuwait’s army said it dealt with missiles detected in Kuwaiti airspace, while Jordanian authorities confirmed that two Iranian ballistic missiles were downed.
Regional and Global Impact
The escalation quickly disrupted civilian air travel. Global airlines suspended or rerouted flights across much of the Middle East, with flight tracking data showing airspace over Iran and parts of the Gulf largely cleared of commercial traffic.
The widening scope of the confrontation has heightened fears of a broader regional war. Gulf states have traditionally balanced close security ties with Washington while maintaining cautious diplomatic engagement with Tehran. Saturday’s attacks mark one of the most direct spillovers of hostilities into Gulf territory in recent years.
Diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis appear strained as military exchanges intensify. Governments across Europe and Asia have urged restraint, while energy markets and financial traders are closely monitoring the situation for potential disruptions to oil shipments and regional trade flows.
With missile interceptions reported across multiple countries and at least one confirmed fatality in the UAE, the conflict has entered a more dangerous and unpredictable phase, raising concerns about further retaliatory strikes in the coming days.
