Iran accused of striking Qatar and Bahrain hours after peace pledge

Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain on Saturday, March 7, while residents in Doha, the capital of Qatar, received emergency alerts on their mobile phones warning of a potential security threat.

According to CNN, Qatari authorities issued an urgent message advising the public to take immediate precautions.

“The level of security threat has been raised,” the warning stated. “Everyone must remain indoors, refrain from going outside, and stay away from windows and open areas to ensure public safety.”

Later, the Ministry of Defence of Qatar announced that a ballistic missile launched from Iran had been successfully intercepted.

“The security threat has been neutralized and the situation has returned to normal,” the ministry said in a follow-up statement.

At roughly the same time, the alerts were issued, Iranian state media reported that a combined strike involving missiles and drones had been carried out against Qatar and Bahrain.

The reported attacks came shortly after Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of Iran, delivered an address in which he apologised to neighbouring countries and promised that they would no longer face attacks.

By Tamilla Hasanova