Iran has been conducting strikes on most of the Gulf monarchies since Saturday, killing at least two people in the United Arab Emirates, in retaliation for an attack by the United States and Israel that has raised fears of a conflagration in the region.

Iranian officials had in recent weeks increased their threats to strike American infrastructure installed in the countries of their Gulf allies in the event of an attack by Washington.

On Sunday morning, AFP journalists witnessed new explosions in Doha, Qatar, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Manama, the capital of Bahrain.

Only Oman, which is mediating the negotiations that resumed in early February between Iran and the United States, was not targeted.

- Two dead in the Emirates -

At least one person was killed and seven others injured in an incident at Abu Dhabi airport, the airport authority announced. Also in Abu Dhabi, a civilian was killed by missile debris, the UAE Ministry of Defense stated, adding that the country had been subjected to a clear attack by Iranian ballistic missiles. UAE air defenses successfully intercepted several of these missiles.

In Dubai, four people were injured in a fire, local authorities announced after two witnesses told AFP they heard an explosion and saw a column of smoke rising from the iconic artificial island of The Palm. A "minor fire" was also caused by debris from an intercepted drone at the luxury Burj Al Arab hotel, according to the Dubai Media Office. A fire also broke out in the port following an Iranian missile attack, but no injuries were reported, the emirate announced.

Two people reported seeing smoke rising from Al Dhafra Air Base in the Emirati capital, which hosts US troops, including the 380th Expeditionary Wing of the US Air Force. According to another witness, businesses operating in the area asked their employees to evacuate.

The United Arab Emirates was targeted by 137 missiles and 209 drones fired by Iran, most of which were destroyed or intercepted, the Ministry of Defense announced late Saturday. Iran stated it reserved the right to retaliate for the attacks, denouncing what it called "a dangerous escalation."

- Twelve injured in Kuwait -

Kuwait, which closed its airspace, indicated that 12 people had been injured as a result of the strikes, without providing details of this toll.

The army reported three soldiers injured in a missile attack targeting the Ali Al-Salem airbase, which hosts American and other foreign personnel, including Italians.

According to Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, an Iranian missile caused "significant damage" to the base's runway, "but no Italian personnel were injured."

A drone also struck Kuwait International Airport, according to the Civil Aviation Authority, slightly injuring employees and causing "limited material damage to the passenger terminal".

- Qatar denounces "a flagrant violation" of its sovereignty -

Eight people were wounded in Iranian attacks on Saturday using 44 missiles and eight drones against Qatar, a diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity. A long-range radar system was damaged at Al-Udeid Air Base, the largest US military installation in the region, according to the same source.

The emir of the wealthy gas-rich emirate, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, called for containment of a "dangerous escalation" in the Middle East, during a call with US President Donald Trump.

Qatar considers the Iranian operation "a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty" and "reserves the full right to respond to this attack," its foreign ministry announced.

Al-Udeid Air Base hosts the forward components of the U.S. Central Command for the Middle East (Centcom), as well as its air and special operations forces in the region.

Iran fired missiles at Al-Udeid in June following US strikes targeting its nuclear facilities.

- Saudi Arabia condemns "Iranian aggression" -

Saudi Arabia, a regional heavyweight, claimed to have repelled Iranian strikes against its capital Riyadh and its eastern province.

The country expressed "its strongest condemnation of the Iranian attacks" against its territory and more broadly of "Iranian aggression" in the region.

The kingdom stated "that it will take all necessary measures to defend its security and protect its territory, its citizens and its residents, including the option of responding to this aggression."

Its de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, held telephone talks with the leaders of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, Saudi diplomacy said.

He assured them of "the Kingdom's full solidarity and support" and of his country's readiness "to make all its capabilities available to them".

- Four injured in Bahrain -

The official Bahrain News Agency reported on X that 45 Iranian missiles and nine drones had been shot down, citing the military. Four people were injured, according to the agency, which cited public hospitals.

Bahrain said it had evacuated a district of its capital Manama housing the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, which was targeted earlier by Iranian missiles, and the US embassy announced its closure on Sunday, "in view of the ongoing missile strikes" against the small state.

Three residential buildings in and around the capital were damaged by drone strikes and missile debris, according to the Interior Ministry.

Bahrain International Airport was targeted by a drone, resulting in material damage but no fatalities, according to the ministry.

The authorities also announced that schools and universities would switch to distance learning until further notice.

AFP