Iran opens Day 21 with new missile and drone wave — UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia air defenses respond; Jerusalem and northern Israel targeted

Iran launched a new wave of missiles and drones in the early hours of Day 21 — Friday, March 20, the first day of Nowruz (Persian New Year) and simultaneously Eid al-Fitr. Heavy explosions shook Dubai as Emirati air defences intercepted incoming fire over the city, where residents were observing both holidays and mosques were making the day's first call to prayers. UAE interior ministry and Kuwait's army issued separate official statements confirming interception operations. Bahrain's interior ministry activated air raid sirens. Saudi Arabia's defence ministry confirmed it intercepted a drone in the country's eastern region. Simultaneously, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel — sirens sounded across a wide swath of the north from Haifa to the Galilee to the border with Lebanon, sending millions to shelters. The IDF confirmed the missile fire and launched a new wave of airstrikes on Tehran in response. The overnight Iranian campaign represents a distinct Day 21 wave, continuing the multi-front Gulf and Israel campaign despite massive degradation of Iran's military capability. The dual religious holiday — Nowruz for Iranians, Eid al-Fitr for the broader Muslim world — did not deter Iran from launching attacks or Israel from responding.