Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported coming under fresh attacks on Monday (March 23, 2026) morning, with explosions and sirens sounding over the oil-rich Gulf.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense said it had detected two incoming ballistic missiles targeting the capital on Monday (March 23, 2026), “one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area”.

Read | Iran-Israel war LIVE

The UAE Defence Ministry said it was “currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran”, explaining “the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones”.

Hours earlier, Abu Dhabi authorities reported an Indian national had been wounded by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile.

And sirens were sounding in Bahrain, with residents instructed to seek shelter.

“Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,” the interior ministry posted on social media.

Read | Saudi Arabia reports three ballistic missiles targeted Riyadh area

Gulf nations that have long billed themselves as oases of safety and stability in the region have been drawn into the Middle East war as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli strikes.

The Islamic republic has taken aim at US assets as well as civilian infrastructure, including landmarks, airports, ports and oil facilities around the Gulf.

Australia will deploy a military surveillance aircraft to the ⁠Middle East and send missiles to the United Arab Emirates, but will not put troops ‌on the ground in Iran, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday (March 10, 2026).

Australia’s ‌military support would help the ‌Gulf ⁠countries defend themselves against unprovoked attacks ⁠from Iran, Mr. Albanese said, stressing Australia was “not a protagonist”.

Also Read: Israel-Iran war LIVE updates

“Our involvement is purely defensive,” Mr. Albanese told reporters. “And it’s in defence ‌of Australians who are in the region as well as in defence of our friends in the United Arab Emirates.”

Mr. Albanese ‌said Australia would deploy one of its Boeing-manufactured E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control system aircraft ⁠for an initial four weeks to protect the airspace above the Gulf countries.

Advanced medium-range ‌air-to-air missiles would be provided to the United Arab Emirates, following a phone call with President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he added.

The war has effectively shut the Strait of ‌Hormuz, a chokepoint for a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas, as the conflict escalated.

Around 115,000 Australians were ⁠in the Middle East when the conflict ⁠began 11 days ago, and 2,600 Australians have now returned home by ‌commercial flights as several Gulf cities came under Iranian bombardment.