Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia reported new explosions, interceptions as the war reached the 3-week mark.
Published on 18 March 2026
Iran has fired missiles and drones at several Gulf Arab states to try to deter them, the daily fallout from the United States-Israeli war over Iran that began nearly three weeks ago has left the Middle East with deaths, destruction, assassinations and an energy crisis beyond its reach.
Early Tuesday morning, Qatar’s defense ministry said its armed forces had intercepted a missile attack against the country.
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The Kuwaiti National Guard said it shot down the drone early in the morning. The statement came hours after the Kuwaiti military said it was intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reported intercepting missiles and drones in recent hours.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported the interception and destruction of a drone in the eastern region.
Earlier on Tuesday, the UAE Defense Ministry said the country’s air defense was “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran”. The announcement came four hours after another attack was reported from Iran.
Al Jazeera’s Zein Basrawi, reporting from Dubai, said, “The UAE has been hit the hardest by Iran’s retaliation. For example, 3000 different projectiles – missiles and drones – have been fired from Iran at GCC countries. It was heard across the city.
“The glow of defensive weapons and interceptors in the night sky is all too familiar, not only in Dubai, but in cities across the GCC. Once again seen here in the sky.
“Dubai’s media office confirms that it was the result of air defense interdiction operations,” he added.
Several deaths have occurred in the Gulf countries, where the economic impact has been felt sharply since the war began.
Gulf economies bear the brunt of the Iran war
The Gulf’s economy is suffering some of the worst damage.
Iran has launched a series of attacks on Gulf states since the conflict began on February 28, arguing that they were attacking military bases used by the US for war. Gulf states have rejected Tehran’s claims, insisting the attacks on them are unjustified.
Iranian strikes have increased energy production and caused major disruption to tourism and travel, with the region at risk of some of the worst economic damage since the 1990-1991 Gulf War.
After nearly three weeks of war, the economic impact on the region is already considerable.
According to Rystad Energy, daily output from Middle Eastern oil producers has fallen from 21 million barrels to 14 million barrels as it deals with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
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