A ballistic missile struck Qatar’s Al Udeid air base on Thursday, as the conflict between Israel, the United States, and Iran entered its fifth day, with attacks spreading across the Gulf region and raising the specter of a wider regional war.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that American and Israeli strikes had “destroyed almost everything” inside Iran, a claim that could not be independently verified. Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeid Iravani, countered that the U.S. Decision to attack was “a completely foolish decision,” asserting that the strikes occurred while negotiations were ongoing and denying any current communication between Tehran and Washington.
The Israeli military reported deploying more than 5,000 munitions since the start of hostilities, expanding “air superiority across Iran, particularly in the Tehran area.” Israeli aircraft continued operations within Iran, targeting defence and surveillance systems at Mehrabad Airport in the capital.
Iran intensified its missile barrages on Israel, with air raid sirens sounding in over 300 cities and towns. Two waves of missiles were launched toward Israeli territory within a 30-minute period, causing shrapnel to fall in the Tel Aviv area and lightly injuring a woman, while explosions were reported in Jerusalem.
Qatar reported that the attack on Al Udeid involved two ballistic missiles, with most intercepted by its air, naval, and air-defence forces. Doha subsequently stated that the country had also been targeted by ten drones and two cruise missiles. The United Arab Emirates reported intercepting three ballistic missiles and 121 Iranian drones, with eight drones falling within its territory. Authorities stated that since the beginning of the escalation, 189 ballistic missiles had been launched toward the UAE, of which 175 were intercepted and one landed inside the country. They also detected 941 drones, intercepting 876.
A fire near the U.S. Consulate in Dubai was extinguished following a drone strike, with no injuries reported. A separate drone attack targeted the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, reportedly causing significant damage to a CIA station located within the embassy compound, according to CNN sources.
Britain’s maritime security agency reported receiving reports of suspicious maritime activity approximately 20 miles west of Dubai. Bahrain announced the opening of volunteer recruitment to support national response efforts, while Saudi Arabia affirmed its commitment to taking all necessary measures to defend its territory and protect citizens and residents.
Turkey summoned Iran’s ambassador after a ballistic missile traversed Turkish airspace. The Turkish defence ministry stated that NATO air-defence systems intercepted an Iranian missile over Hatay province.
Authorities in Iran announced three days of funeral ceremonies for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following his assassination, with burial scheduled in the holy city of Mashhad. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the Assembly of Experts was holding remote meetings to select a successor due to security concerns, suggesting a new supreme leader could be named within hours or days. Israeli Security Minister Israel Katz warned that any successor to Khamenei would become “a confirmed assassination target.”
Mohammad Mokhber, an advisor to the late supreme leader, stated that Iran had no intention of negotiating with the United States and was prepared for a prolonged conflict, asserting there was “no trust in the Americans and no basis for negotiations.” Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused Trump of “dragging the American people into a treacherous war with Iran through Netanyahu’s theatrics,” warning that Khamenei’s assassination would “come at a heavy price.”
Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs reported a death toll of 1,045 people since the start of the war. The chairperson of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that Washington would widen its campaign and strike “deep inside Iran,” targeting ballistic missile systems and production facilities, adding that U.S. Forces had hit more than 2,000 Iranian targets and destroyed over 20 vessels.
Amid the intensifying crisis, Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a series of calls with counterparts in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Syria to discuss the rapidly evolving situation. Egypt’s foreign ministry said the officials expressed deep concern over the military escalation and its implications for regional and international security, stressing the need for enhanced Arab coordination in responding to the crisis.
