Gulf countries scramble to intercept missiles after U.S.-Iran ceasefire

Several Middle Eastern countries reported on Wednesday that missiles and drones from Iran had triggered air defenses across the Gulf, just hours after a newly declared two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

The United States and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire just before US President Donald Trump set a deadline to launch major attacks if a deal is not reached. If the ceasefire continues, a new road will open two week negotiation window US and Iranian delegations are expected to meet in Islamabad on Friday.

Trump said the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire was contingent on the “complete, immediate and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian officials made a statement expression “If attacks against Iran are stopped, our Mighty Armed Forces will cease defensive operations,” he said on Wednesday.

Tehran added that safe passage through the strait would be possible through coordination with its armed forces and “due consideration of technical constraints”; These warnings could give Iran leeway to define compliance on its own terms.

Despite the postponement, missiles continued to be launched from Iran to Israel and many Gulf countries.

Israeli army He said he detected the ballistic missile Attacks from Iran began early on Wednesday, with early warnings issued in central and northern parts of the country.

United Arab Emirates air defense systems seize missiles and drones He called on the public to stay in safe places. “The sounds heard in scattered parts of the country are the result of UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles,” the ministry said. he said.

Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense organization also published early warnings There is a danger of “potential danger” across the country, including Riyadh. Kuwait, bahrain and Qatar has also issued warnings or activated defenses as threats emerge in the region.

US and Israel launched more than one 3,000 strikes Attacks on Iran have continued since the conflict began on February 28, and Iran has retaliated with a total of 1,511 attacks on targets in Israel and neighboring Gulf states, according to crisis monitoring agency ACLED.

Weapons stocks in the region reportedly under pressure Because some Gulf countries have used a significant part of their preventive inventories. By late March, the UAE and Kuwait had expended about 75% of their Patriot missile interceptor stockpiles, while Bahrain was estimated to be up to 87% depleted, according to the Jewish National Security Institute of America.

Iranian Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam on Tuesday He warned the Gulf countries “To be careful about their conditions and their relationship with Iran.” “Sooner or later America will accept defeat and leave this region, you will remain,” he warned.

Tehran has intensified its attacks on many Middle Eastern countries since the start of the war and used them as leverage over the Gulf countries and the United States.

While Gulf air defenses are largely effective against ballistic missiles, they have struggled to repel Iranian drones, which are cheaper to produce and often launch in swarms, overwhelming interceptors.

Recent attacks have caused serious damage to energy infrastructure in the region; A recent attack also destroyed energy infrastructure in the region. 17% of production at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facilitiesDamage that will take years to repair.

UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash reportedly said earlier this week that the war must end a long term solution He issued a warning for Gulf security and warned against any ceasefire that fails to achieve this. “We do not want hostility with Iran, but there is no trust in this regime.”