Iran Launches Missiles, Drones at Israel, Gulf States

Air defenses in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting incoming weapons.

Israeli security forces inspect an apartment struck by an Iranian missile that killed two people in Ramat Gan, Israel, on March 18, 2026. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP

Iran launched missiles and drones toward Israel and several Persian Gulf countries on March 18, prompting widespread responses from air defense systems across the Middle East, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

The IDF said in a post on Telegram that it had identified missiles launched from Iran and engaged defensive systems to intercept the threat. It added that emergency alerts were sent to residents’ mobile phones in affected areas and urged the public to follow instructions from the Home Front Command, the IDF branch responsible for supporting civilians. Home Front Command later said civilians were permitted to leave protected spaces in all areas of the country.