ISTANBUL

Gulf countries intercepted dozens of ballistic missiles and drones from Iran on Tuesday as Tehran intensified its retaliatory strikes to the ongoing US-Israeli attacks amid escalating regional tensions.

The Saudi Defense Ministry said that its air defenses had intercepted and destroyed 33 drones targeting the Eastern Province.

The United Arab Emirates said it managed to shoot down five ballistic missiles and 17 drones on Tuesday.

According to a statement by the UAE Defense Ministry, air defenses intercepted 357 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,806 drones since Feb. 28.

The ministry said the Iranian attacks had resulted in the death of two soldiers and six civilians of different nationalities, as well as the injury of 161 people.

The Kuwaiti Defense Ministry said 17 ballistic missiles and 13 drones were detected from Iran on Tuesday.

According to the statement, 13 missiles and 10 drones were intercepted and destroyed, while four missiles and three drones fell “outside the threat area.” No injuries were reported.

The statement said the falling debris of the intercepted projectiles caused limited material damage, including to some homes, and disrupted some power lines.

In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said sirens were activated twice since dawn Tuesday, calling on residents to seek shelter, without giving details about the number of detected projectiles.

The ministry said civil defense teams extinguished a fire at a facility following an Iranian attack, without providing further details.

Regional escalation has continued since the United States and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, with reported casualties exceeding 1,340 people.

Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties, infrastructure damage, and disruptions to global markets and aviation.