- Iran launched coordinated missile and drone strikes across multiple Gulf states and Israel on February 28 following the reported killing of its senior leadership, with regional air defenses intercepting most incoming threats.
- The attacks tested integrated air defense systems across the Gulf region and highlighted continued reliance on missile and drone warfare in regional retaliation operations.
Iran carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack across multiple Gulf countries and Israel on February 28, following the reported elimination of senior Iranian political and military leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The strikes targeted the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Israeli territory, marking one of the widest geographically distributed Iranian attacks in recent years.
The coordinated assault appeared aimed at demonstrating Iran’s retained strike capability after the loss of its senior leadership structure. The attacks unfolded across the Gulf region within the same operational window, indicating centralized planning despite political disruption inside Iran’s command hierarchy.
According to regional government statements and local reporting, the United Arab Emirates experienced the largest volume of incoming weapons. Emirati authorities reported the launch of 137 missiles and 209 Shahed-type drones toward the country. Air defense systems intercepted 132 missiles and 195 drones, while several projectiles penetrated defenses and struck targets, including areas near Dubai International Airport and the Burj Al Arab hotel complex. Officials reported limited impact sites despite the scale of the attack.
Qatar reported 66 incoming missiles and 12 drones. Authorities said most threats were neutralized, though debris from a booster stage containing toxic gases fell within Qatari territory. No large-scale infrastructure damage was publicly confirmed at the time of reporting.
In Bahrain, officials recorded 45 missiles and nine drones targeting the island kingdom. Several projectiles impacted residential structures after interception efforts, resulting in localized damage. Bahraini authorities did not release detailed casualty figures but confirmed civilian areas were affected.
Jordan reported a combined missile and drone attack totaling 49 aerial threats. The Jordanian military stated that 13 missiles were intercepted by national air defense systems, while other projectiles either fell outside populated zones or caused limited damage. Officials described the response as coordinated with regional partners monitoring shared airspace.
Kuwaiti authorities did not disclose full launch numbers but confirmed at least 11 missiles were detected, nine of which were intercepted. Officials also reported the launch of 15 drones, with five destroyed before reaching targets. The attacks were directed toward military installations and airport infrastructure, according to government statements.
Saudi Arabia confirmed that a military facility connected to United States forces was targeted by five ballistic missiles. Saudi air defenses intercepted all incoming missiles before impact. No damage or casualties were reported.
The strikes extended further than previous Iranian retaliatory operations, reaching Oman, a state that has traditionally maintained neutrality in regional conflicts. Omani officials said missiles targeted the port of Duqm, injuring one foreign worker.
Israeli authorities also reported incoming missile fire originating from Iran. Air defense systems were activated nationwide, and interceptions were reported, though officials released limited operational details during the initial response phase.
Regional militaries activated layered air defense systems throughout the attacks, including Patriot, THAAD, and locally operated interception networks. The wide distribution of targets forced simultaneous defensive operations across multiple airspaces, highlighting the growing reliance on integrated missile defense among Gulf states.
As noted by regional defense authorities, many of the attacking drones were assessed as Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles designed for long-range strike missions. These systems typically fly at low altitude and slower speeds than ballistic missiles, complicating detection timelines when launched in large numbers alongside missile salvos.
Operationally, the February 28 attack demonstrates Iran’s continued emphasis on distributed regional targeting rather than a single concentrated strike. By engaging multiple Gulf monarchies simultaneously, the operation expanded the defensive perimeter and required coordinated response across national command structures.
Editor’s Note
The figures reported by Bahrain remain under question. While official statements indicated high interception rates, open-source intelligence (OSINT) analysis circulating after the attack appears to confirm at least two ballistic missile impact sites and one successful drone strike on Bahraini territory.
As a result, the interception data released immediately after the February 28 attacks should be treated as preliminary pending further independent verification and updated official assessments.