Air defence systems in Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia engaged missile and drone threats on March 23, the 24th day of the US-Israel-Iran conflict. Kuwait reported response at 2:20 a.m. with explosions from interceptions, the UAE advised people to remain indoors and Saudi officials confirmed interceptions in the east with one ballistic missile landing harmlessly.
The Kuwaiti Armed Forces General Staff confirmed that air defence units were actively responding to the hostile aerial targets. Authorities explained that the explosions residents might have heard resulted from these interception operations. They reassured the public that the systems were functioning as intended and urged everyone to follow safety instructions from the relevant bodies.
Arab Times reported that the United Arab Emirates announced its air defence forces were engaging the threats throughout the day. The advisory to residents called for them to remain indoors and adhere closely to all official guidance provided. This action formed part of the broader regional response to the escalating aerial incursions.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence stated that air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed aerial threats targeting the Eastern Region. The ministry added that two ballistic missiles were detected heading for Riyadh with one successfully neutralised in the air. The second missile landed in an uninhabited area and caused no casualties, according to the official confirmation.
An online analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies found that since the conflict began on Feb. 28 the Arab Gulf states have used hundreds of missile interceptors against Iranian missiles and drones. The IISS report noted that this has consumed a significant portion of their stockpiles of long-range interceptors while Iranian UAV attacks have continued by the dozen. It highlighted that US and Israeli actions had reduced Iran’s ballistic missile launch rate after the opening days of hostilities.
Figures from Asharq Al-Awsat showed that Gulf air defences had intercepted a total of 3,133 Iranian missiles and drones by March 11. Kuwait was among the more heavily targeted with 562 intercepts while the UAE saw 863 according to the same figures. Saudi Arabia accounted for 177 in that period with 25 missiles and 151 drones destroyed, the publication reported.
A Bruegel assessment observed that the cost of such defences has drawn attention with each Patriot interceptor costing around $4 million while the opposing Shahed drones are valued in the tens of thousands of euros at most. This imbalance has imposed staggering military costs on the defending states as the conflict has persisted. The report warned that prolonged engagements could strain available munitions reserves across the region.
