• Saudi Arabia says ballistic missile targeting Prince Sultan Air Base fell in uninhabited area

ISTANBUL

The United Arab Emirates and Qatar on Saturday said that their air defense systems intercepted ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran, while Bahrain reported a fire in the capital, and a ballistic missile targeting the Saudi Prince Sultan Air Base fell in an uninhabited area.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said in a statement that its air defenses responded to missile and drone threats targeting the country.

The ministry added that sounds heard in various areas were caused by air defense systems intercepting the incoming ballistic missiles and drones.

In a statement, the Qatari Defense Ministry said that the armed forces “intercepted a missile attack which targeted the State of Qatar.”

Meanwhile, the Bahraini Interior Ministry said in a statement that an “Iranian aggression” caused a fire and material damage to a house and several surrounding buildings in the capital, Manama. Civil Defense is taking the necessary measures to extinguish the fire, it added.

In Saudi Arabia, the official news agency cited the official spokesperson for the Defense Ministry as saying that a “ballistic missile fell in an uninhabited area after being launched towards Prince Sultan Air Base” in the Al-Kharj province, southeast of the capital, Riyadh.

No immediate details were released about possible damage or casualties.

Iran’s armed forces announced that they had carried out a new large wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and US-linked targets in the region.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted US forces at Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE using a large number of drones.

The IRGC said in a statement that its naval drone unit carried out a large-scale attack on the base early Saturday.

The statement added that the attack targeted the US Air Warfare Center, the satellite communications center, early warning radars, and fire-control radars.

The development came despite Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian saying Saturday that Iran would refrain from attacking neighboring states unless attacks were launched against the country from their territory.

Iran began launching missiles and drones on Feb. 28 toward Israel and Gulf countries that host US military assets. Some of the strikes have caused casualties and damage to civilian sites, including ports and residential buildings.

Tehran says the attacks are in response to a US-Israeli military campaign against Iran that has killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior military officials.