Residents across several Gulf nations scrambled for safety Saturday after Iran launched missiles and drones toward U.S. bases and allied targets, bringing rare scenes of chaos to cities long viewed as secure commercial hubs. The attacks followed joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iranian targets earlier in the day.

In Doha, Qatar’s capital, witnesses reported a missile plunging into a residential neighborhood, igniting a fireball upon impact. Dozens of people fled the area in panic as emergency responders rushed to the scene.

Bahrain confirmed that a missile targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama. Authorities evacuated residents from the nearby Juffair district as sirens sounded. A 15-year-old student visiting a friend in the area described crying in fear as explosions echoed nearby.

In the United Arab Emirates, projectiles were seen streaking across the sky above Dubai, home to the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa. In Abu Dhabi, golfers at a local course watched missiles pass overhead, stunned by the spectacle. State media later reported that shrapnel from an intercepted missile killed one person in the UAE.

Saudi Arabia said it repelled incoming projectiles aimed at its capital and eastern region. In Riyadh, expatriates expressed alarm at the sudden violence, noting that many had relocated to the Gulf for stability compared to other parts of the Middle East.

For years, Gulf monarchies have sought to insulate themselves from regional conflict, balancing close security ties with Washington while cautiously improving relations with Tehran. Saudi Arabia restored diplomatic ties with Iran in 2023 after a seven-year rupture. Until recently, such direct strikes were rare.