ThePrint ThePrintPod: 4,300 missiles & drones since day 1 of war: Gulf nations, not Israel faced brunt of Iran’s retaliation
Mar 27, 2026
A report on Iran launching over 4,300 missiles and drones since the war began. Focus on why Gulf nations, especially the UAE and Saudi Arabia, absorbed the heaviest strikes. Coverage of attacks on energy infrastructure, damage to Qatar’s LNG exports, and major barrages in March. Discussion of geography, targeting policy, and the wider impact on the Strait of Hormuz and oil markets.
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Majority Of Iran Strikes Targeted Gulf States
- Iran fired roughly 4,300 missiles and drones at GCC states versus about 930 at Israel since 28 February.
- That means about 83% of strikes targeted the six GCC countries, per aggregated defense tallies cited by Keshav Padmanabhan.
UAE Faced Heaviest Wave Of Attacks
- The UAE bore the heaviest burden with at least 815 UAVs and 372 missiles, including 357 ballistic missiles, per Emirati Ministry of Defense.
- ACLED counted 112 aggregated strike events there, exposing about 2 million people to potential impact.
Energy Infrastructure Suffered Severe Damage
- Iran targeted strategic energy infrastructure, notably Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex and the UAE's Habshan gas field, disrupting production and exports.
- Ras Laffan damage wiped roughly $20 billion of annual LNG exports and hit about 17% of Qatar's LNG output.