Allies of US in the Gulf Bear Brunt of Iran Attacks After Escalation

Published: 2 March 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

As the Middle East conflict escalates following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, several U.S. partner states in the Gulf region have been directly affected by Iranian missile and drone attacks, rattling countries long viewed as secure and stable. Tehran’s campaign of retaliation has extended beyond military targets to impact civilian and strategic infrastructure across a range of Gulf Arab states, highlighting both the vulnerability of the region and the risks faced by nations hosting American forces and allied assets.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched repeated waves of ballistic missiles and unmanned drones toward the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait, as well as bases where U.S. forces are stationed. Gulf air‑defence systems intercepted the vast majority of these projectiles, but debris and falling fragments still caused damage to key urban and commercial areas, including Dubai’s international airport, the Burj Al Arab hotel and ports in the UAE, and residential zones near military installations.

Emirati defence authorities reported hundreds of incoming missiles and drones, with air‑defence systems destroying most but not all of them. Three foreign workers — from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh — were killed in the UAE since the campaign began, and dozens more were injured. Injuries in the region, including in areas of Doha and Manama, underscore the human cost beyond military personnel.

Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, such as Al‑Udeid Air Base in Qatar and facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, have found themselves at the heart of the fighting. Iran has explicitly labelled all U.S. and Israeli military targets in the Middle East as legitimate, increasing pressure on host governments to intercept attacks while managing domestic safety and regional diplomatic fallout.

The strikes have also disrupted daily life and regional connectivity. Major international airspaces — including those over Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha — were closed temporarily in response to the threats, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute flights and stranding travellers. The closures and heightened security alerts have had a ripple effect on global aviation and travel.

The shared condemnation from the United States and Gulf governments — including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — reflects both the gravity of the situation and concerns about sovereignty violations as a result of Iran’s actions. These states have been vocal in denouncing the attacks as breaches of international law and threats to regional stability.

Analysts say that the escalation places Gulf allies in a difficult position: they rely heavily on U.S. defence guarantees and military cooperation for regional security, yet they now face direct consequences of the very conflict initiated to counter perceived threats from Iran. That dynamic complicates diplomatic and strategic calculations, especially in nations — like Qatar and Oman — that had previously pursued diplomatic engagement with Tehran.

As the conflict continues, the impact on Gulf civilian infrastructure, air travel, and regional economies remains a growing concern, underscoring how quickly allied territories can become frontlines in broader geopolitical confrontations.

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