Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Iran has launched a barrage of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and other locations across the Gulf as the conflict with the United States and Israel entered its ninth day, dramatically widening a war that is now engulfing much of the Middle East.
Explosions were heard over Tel Aviv after Iranian missiles were fired toward Israeli territory, while air defense systems were activated across the United Arab Emirates following warnings of incoming projectiles. The attacks came hours after intense overnight strikes by the United States and Israel hit fuel and oil depots in Tehran, setting parts of the Iranian capital ablaze and sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.
The escalation reflects the growing regional scope of the confrontation, which has seen missile and drone attacks reported across multiple countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.
Israeli military officials confirmed that air defenses intercepted several missiles launched from Iran toward Israel. The Israeli military said its defensive systems were actively engaging the incoming threats, while emergency services reported at least six people injured in Israel, including one person in serious condition.
In northern Israel, rocket sirens also sounded in Karmiel and surrounding towns after additional projectiles were launched from Lebanon, suggesting that allied militant groups may also be joining the fight alongside Tehran.
Iranian strikes were not limited to Israel. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates said their air defense systems were responding to a new wave of missile threats, urging residents to remain indoors and follow official warnings. Emirati officials said hundreds of missiles and nearly 1,500 drones had been detected since the conflict began, with the vast majority intercepted before reaching their targets.
The UAE’s defense ministry reported that at least four people have been killed in Iranian attacks since last week.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, the conflict has also caused casualties and damage. Three people were injured by shrapnel after a missile strike near a university in Bahrain, while two border guards were reported killed in Kuwait following attacks involving drones and missiles. Fires were also reported near Kuwait City’s iconic tower district.
Saudi Arabia has also come under attack. Civil defense officials said two people were killed and 12 others injured after a projectile struck a residential building in the city of Al-Kharj. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed responsibility for targeting radar systems in the area, raising fears that the Kingdom could soon retaliate.
The Iranian missile barrage came in response to a massive wave of airstrikes carried out overnight by the United States and Israel. The attacks targeted several fuel and oil storage sites in Tehran, triggering massive explosions that lit up the night sky and sent flames shooting high above the capital.
Residents described the aftermath as resembling a “river of fire” after oil spills ignited across parts of the city. Large fireballs were visible across the skyline, and the smell of burning fuel lingered throughout the day.
Iranian officials warned that the strikes had released hazardous materials into the air, creating toxic conditions for millions of residents. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said the fires had produced dangerous smoke and chemical pollutants that were “endangering lives on a massive scale.”
Western officials said the strikes were part of a broader campaign aimed at crippling Iran’s military and energy infrastructure.
The United Kingdom confirmed that its forces had intercepted an Iranian attack drone during defensive operations in the region. Britain’s Ministry of Defence said a one-way attack drone launched from Iran toward Iraq was successfully engaged overnight. The UK has deployed fighter aircraft including Typhoon and F-35 jets as part of efforts to defend allied assets and shipping routes in the region.
A Merlin helicopter equipped with advanced radar systems is also being deployed to strengthen early detection of drones and missiles.
In Washington, the conflict has prompted increasingly forceful rhetoric from President Donald Trump, who has vowed to intensify military pressure on Iran.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said the United States was “decimating” Iranian capabilities through ongoing strikes but did not rule out the possibility of deploying American ground forces if necessary.
“Sending soldiers would be a great thing,” he said, while adding that such a move would only happen for a “very good reason.” He argued that the scale of current air and missile attacks would likely leave Iranian forces too weakened to mount effective resistance on the ground.
Trump also held a phone call with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer amid tensions over the United Kingdom’s role in the conflict. The US president had earlier criticized the British leader, saying he did not want allies joining the war after its outcome was already determined.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled that the next phase of the war could bring further escalation. Israeli officials said the country had “many surprises” prepared as the campaign against Iran continues.
Israeli authorities also indicated that their operations could target any successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, underscoring the broader goal of weakening the leadership structure of the Iranian regime.
The rapidly expanding conflict has already drawn in multiple actors across the region. Israeli missiles reportedly struck a seaside hotel in Beirut believed to house members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, while Iranian officials accused the United States of widening the war with direct attacks on Iranian territory.
Washington has denied Iranian claims that American soldiers were captured during recent operations.
With missiles, drones, and airstrikes now hitting targets across the Gulf and the Levant, diplomats warn the region is edging closer to a full-scale regional war that could destabilize energy markets, threaten international shipping routes, and draw additional countries into the fighting.
