As US-Israel strikes on Iran intensify, Gulf states activate air defenses, intercepting missiles and drones while monitoring the evolving situation. Read Day 9 updates here
The Israeli Defense Forces announced the elimination of Abu al-Qassem Baba’iyan, who served as the newly appointed Head of the Military Office of the Supreme Leader and Chief of Staff of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters.
Baba’iyan was responsible for coordinating operational and emergency activities across the Iranian regime’s various military organisations.
His killing is part of a broader series of targeted strikes against senior Iranian figures carried out by the IDF since the launch of Operation Roaring Lion and in the period preceding it.
Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, visited the Unified Medical Operations Command Centre to review the emirate’s emergency medical response capabilities.
He was briefed on the medical response ecosystem, support processes for teams treating the injured, and the availability of strategic medical stockpiles across Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Khaled commended the round-the-clock efforts of medical, administrative, and technical staff from both public and private sectors in caring for those injured in the recent Iranian attacks on the UAE.
He also praised the dedication and professionalism shown by healthcare workers and other frontline responders during the crisis.
The Crown Prince affirmed that Abu Dhabi’s integrated healthcare system and advanced emergency capabilities reflect the UAE leadership’s commitment to continuously strengthening medical infrastructure and inter-agency coordination to safeguard community wellbeing under all circumstances.
Staff at the command centre expressed gratitude for the visit and reaffirmed their resolve to maintain the highest levels of readiness in the face of current challenges.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence confirmed that a military projectile struck a residential compound belonging to a maintenance and cleaning company in Al-Kharj Governorate on March 8, 2026.
The incident claimed the lives of two people, one Indian and one Bangladeshi national, and left twelve Bangladeshi residents injured, in addition to causing material damage.
The Civil Defence spokesperson condemned the targeting of civilian sites as a blatant violation of international humanitarian law, adding that all established emergency procedures were carried out in response to the incident.
Qatar Airways announced an expanded limited flight schedule over the coming days following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, as scheduled operations remain suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
Flights departing Doha on March 9 will serve Seoul, Moscow, London Heathrow, Delhi, Madrid, Islamabad, Beijing, Perth, and Nairobi.
On March 10, departures will cover Cairo, London Heathrow, Jeddah, Manila, Kochi, Muscat, Istanbul, Mumbai, Delhi, Nairobi, Islamabad, Madrid, Frankfurt, Colombo, and Milan, with corresponding inbound flights arriving on March 10 and 11 respectively.
The airline stressed that these flights do not signal a resumption of normal commercial operations, and urged passengers not to proceed to their departure airport without a confirmed ticket.
A further update is expected on March 9, with passengers advised to visit the Qatar Airways website or app for the latest information.
Video has emerged showing UAE air defence systems engaging and destroying Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles that attempted to target the country.
The UAE Armed Forces reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the nation’s security and sovereignty, stating they remain fully prepared to counter any threat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine will deploy experts to the Middle East and provide capabilities to help protect civilians and American soldiers stationed in the region.
He noted that “many discussions” are underway on expanding cooperation in a way that benefits both sides, though he said it was too early to share specifics.
Zelenskyy added that further details would follow once Ukrainian experts arrive on the ground next week and conduct their initial assessments.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President stated that the UAE is in a state of self-defence following Iranian attacks on its territory, people, and civilian infrastructure.
He stressed that any defensive measures taken by the state would be transparent and publicly announced, and would not be based on press leaks or narratives from sources of unknown credibility.
Gargash emphasised that the UAE’s objective is to halt the ongoing aggression against the UAE and Arab Gulf states, and not to be drawn into further escalation.
US Central Command issued a safety warning to civilians in Iran on March 8, cautioning that the Iranian regime is conducting military operations, including drone and ballistic missile launches, from densely populated areas in cities such as Dezful, Isfahan, and Shiraz.
Under international law, sites used for military purposes forfeit their protected status and may become legitimate targets.
CENTCOM strongly advised Iranian civilians to stay home, holding the regime responsible for knowingly endangering its own population.
โIranโs terrorist regime is blatantly disregarding civilian lives by attacking Gulf partners while compromising the safety of their own people,โ said Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of CENTCOM.
The statement noted that Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of one-way attack drones since February 28, though launch rates have fallen sharply as US and partner forces degrade Iran’s military capabilities.
CENTCOM affirmed that unlike the Iranian regime, US forces do not deliberately target civilians and take all feasible precautions to minimise civilian harm.
The United Arab Emirates has stated that it is acting in self-defence following what it described as “brutal and unprovoked” Iranian aggression, involving the launch of more than 1,400 ballistic missiles and drones aimed at infrastructure and civilian sites, resulting in deaths and injuries among the civilian population.
The UAE condemned the attacks as a “flagrant violation of international law and the UN Charter,” and an assault on its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While stressing that it has no desire to be drawn into wider conflict or escalation, the UAE affirmed its full right under international law to take all measures necessary to protect its sovereignty, national security, and the safety of its citizens and residents.
The Bahrain Defence Force announced that its air defence systems have shot down 95 ballistic missiles and 164 drones targeting the kingdom since Iranian attacks began.
In a statement carried by the Bahrain News Agency, the military condemned the strikes on civilian sites and private property as a clear breach of international humanitarian law and the United Nations Charter, warning that such indiscriminate attacks pose a direct threat to regional peace and stability.
UAE air defences on March 8, 2026 intercepted 16 out of 17 detected ballistic missiles, with the remaining one falling into the sea. Of 117 drones detected, 113 were shot down while four landed within the country’s territory.
Since the beginning of what the UAE described as brazen Iranian aggression, a cumulative total of 238 ballistic missiles have been detected, with 221 destroyed, 15 falling into the sea, and 2 striking the country’s territory.
A further 1,422 drones have been launched, of which 1,342 were intercepted and 80 fell inside the UAE, alongside 8 cruise missiles which were all destroyed.
The attacks have so far claimed four lives โ nationals of Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh โ and left 112 others with moderate to minor injuries spanning more than 20 nationalities.
The Ministry of Defence said it remains on full alert and is committed to confronting all threats to the country’s sovereignty and security.
Two fuel storage facilities at Kuwait International Airport were hit by a drone attack on Sunday, igniting a large fire at one of them.
The Public Authority for Civil Aviation spokesman confirmed that firefighters are working to contain the blaze, which caused material damage but no casualties according to preliminary assessments.
Emergency teams and airport authorities have mobilised to the site to manage the aftermath of the attack.
Oman Air has announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab from March 9 through March 15, 2026, due to ongoing regional airspace closures.
The airline said additional flights have been arranged to accommodate affected passengers, and urged travellers to regularly check its website for schedule updates.
Guests can also manage their bookings through the Oman Air website or mobile app.
Senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force Lebanon Corps, based in Beirut, were targeted in a strike.
The commanders were said to have been involved in orchestrating terror attacks against Israel while also carrying out operations on behalf of the IRGC inside Iran.
Israel stated that the Iranian regime routinely embeds its military operations within civilian areas in both Iran and Lebanon, and that measures were taken ahead of the strike to limit harm to civilians.
Qatar Airways announced that its scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, with a further update expected on March 9.
However, following limited authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, the airline will operate select inbound flights to Hamad International Airport on March 9 from Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, Zurich, and Muscat โ exclusively for passengers whose final destination is Doha.
The airline also conducted repatriation flights on March 8 from Doha to Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, London, and Zurich, with priority given to stranded families, elderly travellers, and those with urgent medical or compassionate needs.
Passengers are advised not to proceed to their departure airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket, and are encouraged to visit the airline’s website or app for the latest updates.
Gulf Air has confirmed that its flights are temporarily halted following the continued closure of Bahrain’s airspace.
The airline said operations will recommence once the Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs authority clears the airspace for safe use.
A further update is expected at 11:00 Bahrain time (08:00 UTC) on March 9, with passengers advised to monitor the airline’s website or app for the latest information.
The UAE Ministry of Interior has issued a public safety alert confirming that the situation is currently safe.
Residents are advised that they may resume their normal daily activities while remaining cautious, taking necessary precautions, and continuing to follow official instructions.
The UAE Ministry of Interior has issued an emergency alert warning residents of a potential missile threat, directing everyone to immediately take shelter in the nearest secure building, move away from windows, doors, and open areas, and await further official instructions.
Three people were wounded and a university building in the Muharraq area sustained material damage after missile debris rained down on the site, in what was described as a “blatant” act of Iranian aggression.
A drone strike attributed to Iranian aggression targeted civilian facilities, causing material damage to a water desalination plant in an indiscriminate attack.
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