Explosions in Bahrain, Abu Dhabi,  Kuwait and Qatar have been reported following the United States’ strikes on Iran. The nature and source of the explosions were not immediately clear.

A Bahrain News Agency report said: "The service centre of the Fifth Fleet has been subjected to a missile attack, the National Communication Centre has announced. 

Further details will be provided in due course.  The public is urged to follow instructions issued by the relevant official authorities and to obtain information from official sources only."

Reports said several missiles have been intercepted in the Gulf states.

Earlier, authorities had activated emergency warning sirens nationwide, urging “citizens and residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location.”

Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are watching the conflict between the United States and Iran with deep concern as the risk of a wider confrontation looms.

Following this morning's strikes on Iran by US and Israel, Gulf states have started taking precautionary measures. Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE have closed their airspace. 

Gulf states maintain close strategic and security ties with Washington, including hosting US military facilities that could become targets for Iran. 

Prior to the attacks this morning, the US had significantly increased its military footprint across the Gulf and surrounding region — deploying aircraft, fighter squadrons, and naval assets to deter potential Iranian escalation and to reassure allies.

According to regional security sources, Tehran had closely tracked all US movements, including large airborne deployments, carrier strike groups, and combat aircraft rotations into U.S. Central Command bases and naval areas of operation.

Iran has repeatedly warned that any attack on its territory could trigger retaliatory actions on US military assets in the Gulf.

Tehran’s military leadership this week has indicated a shift in doctrine, signalling readiness to impose “heavy casualties” on US forces if conflict escalates, marking a departure from its previous approach aimed at contained confrontations. However, actual capability to execute wide-scale strikes with missiles or drones remains subject to significant constraints.

Strait of Hormuz: Strategic chokepoint 

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman — is one of the world’s most vital energy transit routes, with roughly 20 % of global crude oil exports passing through it daily.

Iran has historically threatened to close or disrupt navigation through the strait in response to Western military action. Although the economic repercussions would be severe for Iran as well, the threat remains one of its most potent leverage points.

During previous rounds of US–Iran conflict, threats from Tehran to block the waterway caused oil prices to spike, markets to jitter, and global trading patterns to shift as investors priced in supply risks.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are watching the conflict between the United States and Iran with deep concern as the risk of a wider confrontation looms.

Following this morning's strikes on Iran by US and Israel, Gulf states have started taking precautionary measures.

Bahrain sounded emergency alert siren. It urged "citizens and residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location".

Gulf states maintain close strategic and security ties with Washington, including hosting US military facilities that could become targets for Iran.

Prior to the attacks this morning, the US had significantly increased its military footprint across the Gulf and surrounding region — deploying aircraft, fighter squadrons, and naval assets to deter potential Iranian escalation and to reassure allies.

According to regional security sources, Tehran had closely tracked all US movements, including large airborne deployments, carrier strike groups, and combat aircraft rotations into U.S. Central Command bases and naval areas of operation.

Iran has repeatedly warned that any attack on its territory could trigger retaliatory actions on US military assets in the Gulf.

Tehran’s military leadership this week has indicated a shift in doctrine, signalling readiness to impose “heavy casualties” on US forces if conflict escalates, marking a departure from its previous approach aimed at contained confrontations. However, actual capability to execute wide-scale strikes with missiles or drones remains subject to significant constraints.

Strait of Hormuz: Strategic chokepoint 

The Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway between the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman — is one of the world’s most vital energy transit routes, with roughly 20 % of global crude oil exports passing through it daily.

Iran has historically threatened to close or disrupt navigation through the strait in response to Western military action. Although the economic repercussions would be severe for Iran as well, the threat remains one of its most potent leverage points.

During previous rounds of US–Iran conflict, threats from Tehran to block the waterway caused oil prices to spike, markets to jitter, and global trading patterns to shift as investors priced in supply risks.