Iran Attack on US Military Base at Al‑Dhafra: On Saturday, Iran fired missiles at several places in the Gulf. One of the main targets was Al-Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. Iran also hit Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. This came after the United States and Israel carried out air attacks earlier on the same day.
The UAE Defence Ministry said in a statement that Iran attacked the country. Many missiles were shot down by UAE air defence systems, but one person died when shrapnel from a missile landed in a home area in Abu Dhabi, Al Jazeera reported.
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“The Ministry condemned this attack in the strongest terms, stressing the state’s categorical rejection of the targeting of civilian objects, facilities, and national institutions, and emphasising that such acts represent a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act that threatens the security and safety of civilians and undermines stability,” the statement said.
The UAE government also warned that this attack breaks international rules. “The Ministry stressed that this targeting is a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law, and that the state reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and take all necessary measures to protect its territory,” it said. The statement added the country is “fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats”.
About Al-Dhafra Air Base
Al-Dhafra Air Base is about 30 km south of Abu Dhabi. The US Air Force has been at the base since 2002 with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. Around 1,200 people work there, including active-duty US soldiers, Reservists, and Air National Guard units. The base has 10 squadrons. Army air defence teams and other coalition forces also work there.
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The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing has helped fight against the Islamic State and joined NATO missions in Afghanistan. In 2017, the base had many advanced US planes like KC-10 tankers, RQ-4 Global Hawk drones, E-3 Sentry AWACS, U-2 spy planes, and F-22 stealth fighters. Later, F-15E Strike Eagles and F-35 Lightning IIs were added.
Even though the US had soldiers at the base since the 1990s, it officially confirmed it in August 2017. The 32nd Army Air and Missile Defence Command also has a brigade at the base to protect it with air defence weapons.
