Iran fired missiles and drones at three Gulf Arab countries on Thursday afternoon. The attacks hit Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is a major expansion of the war beyond Iran's earlier targets.
Earlier in the day, Qatar was also hit by 14 ballistic missiles and 4 drones. That means Iran has now struck four Gulf Arab countries in one day.
Bahrain's Oil Refinery on Fire
The biggest single strike of the day hit Bahrain's main oil refinery. Iranian missiles struck the Bapco Energies plant on the island of Sitra. A fire broke out at the facility.
Bahrain's government said the fire was quickly put out. Officials said no one was hurt. They said the plant was still running while engineers checked the damage.
A strike on a major oil refinery is a serious warning sign. The Bapco Energies plant is one of the most important energy facilities in the Gulf. Hitting it sends a message: Iran can reach the oil supply.
Kuwait Under Attack — US Closes Embassy
Kuwait's military said its air defenses were shooting down missiles flying through the country's airspace Thursday. Interceptor missiles were seen in the sky over Kuwait City.
The US State Department then announced it was shutting down the US Embassy in Kuwait City. All US diplomatic staff were ordered to leave. The US had already suspended operations at its embassies in Saudi Arabia and the UAE earlier this week.
This is the first time the US has closed its Kuwait embassy. The US military has a major base in Kuwait — Camp Arifjan — which houses thousands of American troops and equipment.
UAE Hit by 131 Drones and 6 Missiles
Al Jazeera reporter Laura Khan, reporting from Doha, said the UAE was hit by at least 131 drones and at least 6 ballistic missiles on Thursday. She described "air defense missiles lighting up the night sky in Abu Dhabi."
"The United Arab Emirates has really had its air defense systems put to the test," Khan said. "The continuous volley — especially of drones, but also ballistic and cruise missiles — continuously hitting the country in the past six days."
The UAE said it was defending itself. Gulf Arab leaders put out a joint statement with the US this week saying they have the "right to self-defense" against Iran's attacks. They called Iran's strikes a violation of international law.
Why Is Iran Hitting Gulf Countries?
Iran says it is targeting US military assets inside Gulf Arab countries. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE all host large American military bases. US warplanes take off from these bases to bomb Iran every day.
Iran started by attacking only military targets. It has since expanded to also hit civilian and energy infrastructure. The US and Israel pledged to keep bombing Iran and said they will not stop.
Congress Votes: Trump Keeps His War Powers
In Washington, the US House of Representatives voted Thursday to reject a war powers resolution. The Senate had rejected the same kind of bill earlier this week.
The resolutions would have forced Trump to get approval from Congress before continuing military attacks on Iran. Both chambers voted them down. That means President Trump can keep bombing Iran without a vote from Congress.
Democrats largely supported the war powers limits. Most Republicans voted against them. The final vote in the Senate was 53 against, 47 in favor.
Schools Hit Near Tehran
Iranian media reported that missiles hit two schools in the town of Parand, near Tehran. Iran's Fars news agency shared photos showing damaged classrooms. Residential buildings nearby were also damaged.
The US and Israel have not commented on the Parand strikes as of this report. This comes just six days after 165 schoolgirls and staff were killed in a school strike in the southern Iranian city of Minab. The US said it did not know that site was a school. Iran has called the school strikes war crimes.
Where Things Stand — Day 6
- Death toll in Iran: 1,230+ (Iranian state media)
- US troops killed: 6 (confirmed by Pentagon)
- Deaths in Israel: 11
- Deaths in UAE: 3
- US embassies closed: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE
- Oil prices: Spiking — tankers stranded near the Strait of Hormuz
- War powers: Congress cleared Trump to continue with no limits
Both sides have said they will not stop. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called the war "the biggest test of our people." The US said it will "rain missiles, death, and destruction on Iran" until its goals are met.