Iran’s Drone Blitz Rattles Gulf Cities
A fresh round of explosions rocked Qatar’s capital, Doha, sending a column of black smoke rising above the skyline and heightening fears of a widening regional conflict. According to news agency AFP, Qatar’s defence ministry confirmed that its armed forces were actively working to intercept an incoming missile attack.
Air defence systems were reportedly deployed as sirens sounded across parts of the city. While authorities did not immediately provide details on casualties or damage, officials urged residents to remain indoors and follow emergency instructions. The incident triggered alarm across the Gulf, with reports of explosions also heard earlier in the day in Dubai and Manama, suggesting a broader wave of aerial threats across the region.
The latest escalation came shortly after Qatar began evacuating residents living in areas close to the US Embassy in Doha as a precautionary measure. Security forces sealed off several surrounding roads while emergency teams were placed on high alert.
The developments follow a sharp diplomatic exchange between Qatar and Iran. Earlier in the day, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani criticised Iran during a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. According to a statement issued by Qatar’s foreign ministry, the Qatari premier accused Tehran of attempting to “harm its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs,” reflecting growing tensions among Gulf states amid the ongoing crisis.
Elsewhere in the region, authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported casualties after a drone was intercepted over Abu Dhabi. According to Khaleej Times, falling debris from the destroyed drone injured six foreign nationals — three from Pakistan and three from Nepal — in the ICAD 2 industrial area. The shrapnel reportedly fell at two separate locations after air defence systems successfully neutralised the aerial threat.
Officials in the UAE said the injured individuals were receiving medical treatment and that security agencies had launched an investigation into the incident.
