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IRGC pre-dawn drone wave: 80+ Shahed drones strike Gulf bases and Saudi oil

·Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

The IRGC launched a pre-dawn wave of 80+ Shahed-136 drones targeting US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain and Saudi Aramco infrastructure at Ras Tanura. Coalition air defence intercepts 91%. 3 drones impact at Ras Tanura — minor fire, no major production disruption.

Beginning at approximately 03:30 local Gulf time, the IRGC launched 80+ Shahed-136 loitering munitions across three vectors: Camp Arifjan (Kuwait), NSA Bahrain, and the Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia — the world's largest oil processing facility. Coalition Patriot and C-RAM systems intercepted 73 of 80 (91%). 3 drones impacted at Ras Tanura — two in a perimeter security zone and one near a processing unit, causing a minor fire that was extinguished within 90 minutes. No production disruption confirmed. Saudi Aramco share price dropped 4% on pre-market trading. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry issued a 'strong condemnation' of the attack. The Ras Tanura strike demonstrates Iran's ability and intent to target the global oil supply chain even as its air force is largely neutralised. CENTCOM: '91% intercept rate. We will continue to degrade Iran's drone production capacity.' IRGC Day 6 pre-dawn total: 80 drones, 3 impacts.
irgcdronesshahedras-tanurasaudi-arabiakuwaitbahrain

Actor responses

IRGCSUPPORTINGMilitary Action

IRGC Aerospace Force: 'Operation Dawn's Promise — 80+ drones launched at enemy bases. This is our sacred duty.'

United StatesOPPOSINGMilitary Response

CENTCOM: '91% of inbound drones intercepted. 3 minor impacts at Ras Tanura — no US casualties. Iranian drone capability is degrading.'

IsraelOPPOSINGMilitary Response

IDF: 'Iron Dome and Arrow systems continue to perform. Iranian drone waves are becoming less effective each day.'

Sources

T1CENTCOM88% reliability
T1Reuters95% reliability
T2Saudi Aramco statement80% reliability

Related signals (4)

ABORAD Farsi@@ABORAD_FAHIGH

IRGC sources claim overnight drone wave included new Shahed variant with GPS+visual guidance — harder to jam. If true this is a significant upgrade. CENTCOM 91% intercept today but against improved guidance systems that number drops. Watch this space.

2026-03-05 05:30 UTC
15.0K likes11.0K RT3.1M views
PHAROS NOTEGPS+visual Shahed upgrade is unverified but plausible — Iran has been working on GPS-resistant guidance. If IRGC adapts faster than intercept systems, the drone threat grows despite degraded launch capacity.
IRGC News Agency@@SepahnewsHIGH

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continues its operations of righteous resistance. Our drones reached the oil infrastructure of the enemy's allies in Arabia. Our missiles remain ready. The Supreme Leader lives. The revolution is eternal. Death to America. Death to Israel.

2026-03-05 05:00 UTC
18.0K likes8.0K RT3.2M views
PHAROS NOTE'Our missiles remain ready' — hardline continuity signal. 'The Supreme Leader lives' confirms Mojtaba Khamenei is being publicly invoked as a continuation of the revolution. No surrender signalling.
U.S. Central Command@@CENTCOMHIGH

CENTCOM: 80 Iranian Shahed drones launched at Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia (Ras Tanura) overnight. 73 intercepted (91%). 3 impacted at Ras Tanura perimeter — minor fire, extinguished. No production disruption. No US casualties.

2026-03-05 04:00 UTC
38.0K likes24.0K RT6.2M views
PHAROS NOTERas Tanura — world's largest oil processing facility — is now an IRGC target. Even failed strikes on Ras Tanura move oil markets. 91% intercept is high but Iran has drones to spare.
ELINT News@@ELINTNewsBREAKING

FLASH: 80+ slow-movers from Iranian territory. Three corridors: Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia. CENTCOM air defences engaging. Largest drone wave since Feb 28.

2026-03-05 02:15 UTC
0 likes0 RT0 views
PHAROS NOTEReal-time tracking of pre-dawn wave. Three simultaneous corridors shows IRGC coordination capability intact.