Can Gulf countries defend themselves against renewed Iranian attacks?

What Happened

Renewed military exchanges have occurred between the United States and Iran, resulting in Iranian missile and drone strikes across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. These strikes followed a US bombardment of Iranian coastal locations, including Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Jask, and Qeshm island. Iran claims its operations targeted US military installations, including a fuel depot in Jordan, a helicopter maintenance facility in Bahrain, fuel tanks in Kuwait, and radar systems in Oman. These claims remain unverified. Qatar reported that three civilians, including a child, were injured by falling shrapnel during an interception.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The escalation highlights a security paradox for Gulf states, where the presence of US military bases provides essential air defence capabilities but simultaneously renders these nations targets for Iranian retaliatory strikes. The conflict threatens the stability of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, and tests the efficacy of integrated air defence systems against sustained, low-cost drone and missile saturation tactics.

Watch For

Monitor the status of the memorandum of understanding signed between Washington and Tehran, as both sides have accused the other of violating its terms. Further developments regarding the operational capacity of Gulf air defence networks—specifically THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, and NASAMS systems—during sustained engagements will be critical to assessing regional security viability.