Iran’s Shahed drones have brought terror to Ukrainian skies – now they are being deployed in the Middle East

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Dan Sabbagh Defence and security editorMarch 2, 2026 at 09:16 PM

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medium article 3 min

Iran's Shahed 136 drones, previously used in Ukraine, have recently been deployed in the Middle East, targeting countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. Over the past 48 hours, hundreds of these drones have struck Gulf countries, reportedly as an intimidation tactic by Tehran against US allies. The UAE reported being attacked by 689 drones, intercepting most, but some got through. These relatively inexpensive drones, with a range of up to 1,250 miles, are designed to fly low and can carry a 50kg explosive payload. Attacks have been reported at a US naval base in Bahrain and potentially an RAF base in Cyprus. The Shahed 136 drones were first identified in 2021.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Akrotiri 40% Cyprus 40% Tehran ×250% Kuwait ×250% US Fifth Fleet 50% Israel ×260% United Arab Emirates ×360% United States ×370% Ukraine ×270% Bahrain ×370% Iran ×590% Shahed 136 ×895%

Keywords

shahed 136 drones 100% drone attacks 80% middle east 70% iran 70% ukraine 60% regional intimidation 50% us allies 50% explosive payload 40% radar detection 40%