The Gulf states found themselves in the middle of the ongoing war in the Middle East following the American-Israeli attack on Iran. They were subjected to strikes from the latter, while Qatar was able to shoot down two Tehran planes. For his part, a source close to the Saudi government warned that the Kingdom may respond militarily if Iran launches a “coordinated” attack on its oil infrastructure. A second source reported, “The Saudi army has raised its level of readiness. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi clarified that his country is not in a state of war with the countries of the region.”

Published on: 02/03/2026 - 22:03 Last updated: 02/03/2026 - 22:14

On Monday, Qatar shot down two warplanes coming from Iran and suspended the production of liquefied natural gas, while Tehran expanded the scope of its attacks to strike oil installations in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which led to a significant rise in gas prices.

The Ministry confirmed in a statement that “the US-Qatari Air Force succeeded in shooting down two SU-24 aircraft coming from the Islamic Republic,” in addition to “successfully confronting” seven ballistic missiles and five drones that targeted “several areas in the country today.”

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The Ministry of Defense statement did not address the fate of the pilots of the two Sukhoi planes.

This is the first time that a Gulf country has announced the downing of Iranian warplanes, on the third day of Iranian attacks that came in response to the war launched by the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic on Saturday morning.

"The Saudi Army raises its level of readiness"

For his part, a source close to the Saudi government warned that the Kingdom may respond militarily if Iran launches a “coordinated” attack on its oil infrastructure.

This came after work stopped at some of the facilities of the Saudi Ras Tanura refinery, which is among the largest in the region, after it was targeted by two drones.

The source told Agence France-Presse, “It depends on whether this attack will be seen as a direct attack on Aramco by the Iranian leadership, or whether it is just a rogue drone that approached the site.”

He believed that the Kingdom would target “Iranian oil facilities if Iran launches a coordinated attack on Aramco,” referring to the giant Saudi oil company. A second source reported, "The Saudi army has raised its level of readiness."

In Abu Dhabi, the UAE authorities reported on Monday that a march targeted a fuel tank station, causing a fire that was controlled.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement, “Today, the competent authorities dealt with a fire that broke out as a result of a drone targeting the location of a fuel tank station in Musaffah, and the situation was contained immediately, without resulting in any injuries or impact on the conduct of operations.”

Explosions sounded in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Manama on the third day of Iranian attacks after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in American-Israeli raids.

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Kuwaiti air defenses shot down three American planes

Kuwaiti air defenses shot down three American F-15E Strike Eagles “during air clashes that included attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones,” according to a US military statement.

Three eyewitnesses also reported to Agence France-Presse that thick smoke rose above a power station in northern Kuwait. On Monday evening, the Kuwaiti army announced the killing of a soldier from its naval forces while performing his duties, without revealing the circumstances of his death.

The Iranian raids, which targeted ports, airports, residential buildings, and hotels, in addition to military sites, resulted in the deaths of six people across the Arab Gulf states.

Araqchi: The countries of the region must put pressure on America because of its strike on Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Monday that countries in the region must put pressure on the United States because of its strikes on Iran. In statements broadcast on Iranian state television, Araqchi said that Tehran is not at war with the countries of the region.

Iranian media quoted a Revolutionary Guard commander as saying that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed and any ship that attempts to cross it will be burned.

This measure comes after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli raid, and threatens to disrupt a fifth of global oil flows and raise crude oil prices sharply.

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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