Qatar intercepted missiles targeting the country early Saturday, prompting precautionary evacuations in parts of the capital as authorities activated emergency preparedness measures and reassured residents about the stability of supply chains.

The Qatari defence ministry said the country’s armed forces intercepted incoming missiles in two waves during the early hours of the morning. Journalists and residents in Doha reported hearing air raid alerts followed by the sound of interceptor missiles destroying incoming projectiles at around 2:00 a.m. and again at approximately 5:45 a.m., with loud explosions shaking parts of the city.

Authorities said the situation was handled by defence systems, while the government began precautionary safety steps in several areas.

The interior ministry announced temporary evacuations affecting residents who received notifications through the National Alert System. Officials said alternative accommodation had been arranged for those impacted, though some residents opted to move to other safe locations until the threat subsided.

Witnesses reported evacuations in parts of Msheireb Downtown Doha, a central district that includes government offices and international companies. Some residents and journalists also said areas within Education City were cleared as a precaution. The district hosts branch campuses of several American universities and international institutions.

Officials have not publicly listed the exact neighbourhoods included in the evacuation notices, urging the public to rely on official announcements and follow instructions from authorities.

Shortly before the evacuation alerts were issued, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps published a warning on social media advising employees working at major US technology companies in Gulf countries to leave office areas along with residents living nearby. The message referenced technology hubs in cities including Doha, Dubai and Riyadh.

Qatari officials moved quickly to reassure the public that emergency planning and supply chains remain secure. Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said the country maintains strategic reserves of essential medicines sufficient for about nine months, along with medical supplies capable of supporting healthcare services for up to a year if needed.

Authorities also emphasised the continued flow of goods into the country. National carrier Qatar Airways said it has transported nearly 300 tonnes of essential cargo into Qatar since the beginning of March. The shipments include medicines, baby formula, fresh food and medical equipment.

The airline said cargo flights are continuing through temporary air corridors authorised by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority to maintain supply routes despite regional airspace disruptions.

Government officials said the country’s emergency plans are designed to ensure public safety while maintaining essential services during periods of regional tension. Authorities urged residents to remain calm and stay informed through official communication channels as security forces continue monitoring the situation.

Russia launched a major overnight assault on Ukraine, targeting civilian and infrastructure sites with a combination of ballistic missiles and drones, while Ukraine responded with attacks on Russian energy facilities.

Ukrainian authorities reported that two ballistic missiles and 117 drones were fired during the strike, hitting multiple locations across the country. One missile struck a passenger train traveling from Kyiv to Sumy on Sunday. Early reports indicated that up to 200 passengers were on board, but no injuries were reported.

The attacks come amid a wave of Russian strikes focusing on Ukraine’s energy and railway infrastructure, part of Moscow’s ongoing efforts to disrupt transport, logistics, and supply chains during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have noted repeated damage to railway networks in recent months, causing delays and logistical disruptions across several regions.

Moscow said on Saturday that its recent operations targeted Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and energy facilities, claiming substantial damage. Ukraine, in turn, reported heavy losses inflicted on Russian personnel and equipment at multiple locations, highlighting continued frontline resistance.

Zelenskyy Honors Fallen Soldiers

On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accompanied by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, visited the Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine, a memorial dedicated to soldiers who have died since the 2022 invasion.

During the visit, Zelenskyy presented Jetten with a request from Ukrainian troops defending Druzhkivka for additional radar systems to strengthen frontline defenses. “Last week on the Druzhkivka front, our troops made a very concrete request for radar systems. I won’t go into details now, but they are very much needed. This is what helps protect soldiers,” Zelenskyy said, noting the Netherlands’ expertise in radar technology.

The president also discussed financial support for Ukraine with French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone conversation on Saturday.

Ukraine Strikes Russian Energy Sites

In retaliation, Ukrainian drones targeted an oil pipeline dispatch station in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai region late Saturday. Local authorities reported a major fire at the Armavir facility, which functions as a key hub for fuel distribution through pipelines and rail. Videos shared by residents showed multiple storage tanks ablaze, sending thick smoke into the sky.

The independent monitoring group CyberBoroshno said damage to the station could disrupt the wider petroleum logistics network in the area. Krasnodar Krai authorities dispatched approximately 120 firefighters and 38 fire engines to contain the blaze, which affected roughly 700 square meters.

In Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, authorities reported a missile strike on energy facilities overnight, causing blackouts and disrupting electricity, water, and heating services. Footage circulated online showed explosions at substations and bright flashes lighting up the night sky.

The attacks underscore the intensifying cycle of strikes and counter-strikes between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides targeting infrastructure critical to military and civilian operations.

This escalation adds to growing international concern over the humanitarian and economic impact of continued attacks on energy and transport systems in both countries.

According to media reports, an Iranian businessman is said to have built up a property empire in Europe, including luxury hotels in Germany. Traces of the company are now reported to lead to Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who could become his successor.

Following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the succession at the head of the Islamic Republic remains unresolved. No new Supreme Leader has been formally named, but behind the scenes, Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has emerged as the frontrunner. He has never run for office or been subjected to a public vote but has long been a highly influential figure within the inner circle of the Supreme Leader, cultivating close ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Critics have cautioned that a father-to-son succession would be politically sensitive. Reports suggest Ali Khamenei himself opposed the idea, with a source close to his office telling Reuters in 2024 that he did not want to witness a return to hereditary rule, which many Iranians view as undermining the 1979 revolution that overthrew the US-backed monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Mojtaba Khamenei is also reported to control a substantial overseas property network. A year-long Bloomberg investigation found that he directs a significant European real estate portfolio through intermediaries, with no assets appearing directly in his name. The holdings reportedly include luxury London properties, a villa in Dubai, and high-end hotels in Frankfurt and Mallorca, with funding routed primarily from Iranian oil revenues through financial institutions in the UK, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the UAE via shell companies.

A key asset identified is the Hilton Frankfurt Gravenbruch, a five-star hotel in Germany’s financial hub. Corporate filings indicate the hotel has been owned since 2011 through entities tied to Iranian businessman Ali Ansari and was brought under Hilton’s management in 2024. Frankfurt officials have questioned how Iran-linked capital entered the city’s hospitality sector.

Ansari, a construction magnate sanctioned by the UK in October 2025, is said to act as a liaison for Khamenei’s son. He has denied connections to the IRGC or Mojtaba Khamenei and intends to challenge the UK sanctions. None of the documents reviewed list assets in Khamenei’s name; many are registered under Ansari or offshore entities.

A separate Financial Times investigation estimated Ansari’s European property portfolio at around €400 million. It spans multiple countries and includes a golf resort in Mallorca, a ski hotel in Austria, and additional luxury properties structured through offshore companies in Luxembourg, St Kitts and Nevis, Austria, Germany, and Spain.

The revelations underscore the complexities of tracing foreign-held assets in connection with Iran’s ruling elite and highlight the financial networks tied to a potential future Supreme Leader.