By Micah Jonah
March 1, 2026
Fresh explosions were across key Gulflcities on Sunday as Iran intensified retaliatory strikes following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint US-Israeli attacks.
Blasts were heard for a second consecutive day in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, as well as in Doha, Qatar, and Manama, Bahrain, heightening fears of a widening regional conflict. Witnesses described loud explosions and plumes of smoke rising over parts of the cities, including near key ports and infrastructure facilities.
Authorities in the UAE said Iran had launched more than 100 missiles and over 200 drones towards the country on Saturday, with air defence systems intercepting many of them. However, at least one person was killed and several others wounded in an incident near Abu Dhabi’s airport. Dubai International Airport and facilities in Kuwait were also reportedly affected.
Qatar confirmed dozens of missiles and drones were fired towards its territory, most intercepted, though injuries were reported from falling debris. In Bahrain and Jordan, defence systems were activated amid incoming projectiles, while in northern Iraq, a drone reportedly crashed near Erbil International Airport.
Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Khamenei’s killing as a “great crime”, announced a period of national mourning. Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned that the United States and Israel had “crossed a red line” and would face consequences.
US President, Donald Trump responded with a stark warning, stating that any further Iranian retaliation would be met with unprecedented force.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military said it continued operations against Iranian military and strategic targets, including air
defence installations and missile facilities. Air raid sirens were reported across parts of Israel, including Tel Aviv, as Iranian projectiles were intercepted.
Iran has also announced the formation of a three-member interim council to oversee leadership transition following Khamenei’s death. Public mourning ceremonies have begun in Tehran and other cities as tensions across the Gulf region continue to rise.
The escalating exchanges mark one of the most serious confrontations in the region in decades, raising concerns among Gulf states that host US military assets and critical energy infrastructure.
