RIYADH: Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have faced a barrage of Iranian missiles on Wednesday morning, only hours after a ceasefire between the United States and Iran went into effect.
Kuwait on Wednesday reported Iranian attacks that have been ongoing from 8:00 am local time, with at least 28 drones that damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities.
“Since 8:00 AM (0500 GMT) today, Kuwaiti air defenses have been engaging an intense wave of hostile Iranian attacks, dealing with 28 drones targeting the State of Kuwait,” Kuwait’s military said in a statement on X.
It said it “intercepted a large number of these hostile drones” but that the attacks caused “significant material damage to oil facilities, power plants and water desalination plants.”
The Interior Ministry reported "severe material damage" and said that fires broke out in some of the attacked sites, which included the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation.
The United Arab Emirates also reported strikes hours after the truce was declared.
The UAE defense ministry asserts that “the sounds heard across the country are the result of ongoing engaging operations of missiles.”
Iranian state TV reports an attack on an oil refinery after ceasefire is announced
Iranian state television said Tehran launched airstrikes towards its Gulf neighbors following attacks against its oil facilities on Iran's Lavan island.
“Missile and drone attacks on the Emirates and Kuwait have taken place a few hours after the targeting of Lavan island oil facilities in Iran,” IRIB said in a report.
The report said that firefighters were working to contain the blaze but no one had been hurt. It did not say who launched the attack.
Intense airstrikes pounded Tehran, including in residential neighborhoods. In the past, such strikes have targeted Iranian government and security officials.
The Israeli military said it attacked an Iranian petrochemical site in Shiraz, the second day in a row it hit such a facility. The military later said it also struck bridges in several cities that were being used by Iranian forces to transport weapons and military equipment.
More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days.
Qatar says four wounded after Iran launches barrage against Gulf states
Meanwhile, Qatar said early on Wednesday four people had been hurt by falling missile debris, including a child. The defense ministry announced that the country was targeted by seven missiles and drones launched from Iran.
AFP reporters heard explosions in Doha and Bahrain’s capital Manama.
Qatar’s interior ministry said the authorities were “dealing with an incident” after debris from intercepted Iranian missiles fell on a home in the Muriykh area of west Doha.
“The incident resulted in the recording of four moderate injuries, including a Qatari child,” the statement added.
Saudi Arabia stops five ballistic missiles
Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry spokesperson announced the “interception and destruction of five ballistic missiles launched towards the eastern region”.
The Kingdom’s civil defense issued warnings to residents in Riyadh and the Northern Border province early on Wednesday.
Jordan intercepts two missiles
Jordanian authorities announced on Wednesday that air defenses intercepted two Iranian missiles over the past 24 hours, according to Petra, the state news agency.
Security units responded to 12 separate incidents of falling debris, with no casualties reported. Still, material damage occurred in Mafraq Governorate and the Central Badia region.
