Israel-Iran Update: Missiles, airstrikes and oil disruptions intensify the US-Israel-Iran conflict as Gulf states intercept attacks and regional tensions escalate.
Air defence systems activate across Gulf cities as the US-Israel-Iran conflict expands with missile and drone attacks (Photo: X)
Israel-Iran Latest Update: The growing conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran has entered a more tense stage, as some of the countries in the Gulf are now directly involved into the missile threats and military attacks. Marine explosions on March 7, 2026, were reported in several cities of this Gulf, such as Dubai and Doha and oil exports were temporarily stopped in Kuwait because of increasing security concern.
The second week of the war is spreading past Israel and Iran in retaliation and counter-strikes that are spreading through the region. Israeli forces state that they have already targeted over 300 targets within Iran whereas Lebanese health ministry reports that since the increase of operations by Israel within Lebanon, 294 deaths are registered alongside over 1000 injuries. This rise has created the fears of a wider regional conflict that can destroy the global energy markets and shipping paths.
Increasing regional tensions would not make UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan stand down. In his very first speech since the war had escalated, he addressed the citizens by saying that the UAE has tough skin and bitter flesh, which indicated that the country is tough and ready to face the battle.
The leadership of the UAE underlined the fact that the national defence systems are operational and have the ability to respond to aerial attacks. According to defence analysts, the UAE has spent more than $20 billion on air defences and missile shields in the last ten years in an effort to defend the most important assets including infrastructure and the cities.
The defence ministry of Qatar affirmed that its military forces had shot down a missile heading to the nation following explosions and air raid alarms along the central parts of Doha.
Officials indicated that the missile was neutralised in time before it hit avoiding casualties or causing significant damage. Al Udeid Air Base, one of the largest American military bases in the Middle East and which accommodates about 10,000 American soldiers is located in Qatar, and therefore the country is strategically significant in the conflict.
The UAE announced new missile and drone threats to its land amid enlarged retaliatory measures of the gulf by Iran. The defence ministry reported that air-defence systems were on the go intercepting incoming projectiles.
The people in certain places reported hearing loud bangs, which the authorities confirmed as a result of interception systems blowing up missiles and drones in the middle of the air.
These attacks are a part of an increasing trend of the aerial warfare utilizing drones, ballistic missiles and defensive interception systems. Over the recent years, the Gulf countries have installed sophisticated, systems that can detect missiles in a matter of seconds and shoot them down at an altitude of over 20 kilometres.
Due to the rising insecurity along the oil shipping routes within the Gulf, Kuwait temporarily stopped oil exportation. The nation is estimated to produce approximately 2.5 million barrels of crude oil per day which equals to approximately 7% of the total production of OPEC.
According to energy analysts, even the slightest disruption would affect world prices since approximately, 20 million barrels of oil are transported through the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important energy choke points in the entire world.
The Revolutionary Guards of Iran supposedly initiated an assault on a US military base in the region of Jufair in Bahrain. The state media in Iran reported the strike as a response to a US attack on a desalination plant and situated on the Qeshm Island of Iran. It is another threatening escalation point because US military installations in the Gulf are on high alert. Military experts caution that any prolonged attacks on the US bases would lure more regional allies into the war.
It was a military attack on a base of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) of Iraq located to the south of Mosul. Two officials of PMF claimed that the attack was supposed to be made by the US forces.
The PMF, which was initially established to fight ISIS, consists of a number of factions that are pro-Iran. Any assault on these units can escalate tensions within Iraq whereby there are various armed entities and regional powers that have their influence within Iraq. The PMF contains various groups of armed forces which are supported by Iran and comprise over 60 militia groups whose estimates are 160,000 fighters embedded in the Iraq security system.
1. Why has the conflict intensified recently?
Recent US and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf.
2. Which countries are directly affected?
Israel, Iran, the United States, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Iraq are currently involved or impacted.
3. How many casualties have been reported so far?
Lebanon’s health ministry reports 294 deaths and more than 1,023 injuries since Israel expanded operations there.
4. Could global oil supply be disrupted?
Yes. Gulf nations like Kuwait exporting millions of barrels daily could impact global energy markets if disruptions continue.
5. Is a broader regional war possible?
Security analysts warn the risk is rising as more countries face missile threats and retaliatory strikes.
