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By Matthew Tostevin
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Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries rallied against Iran after it launched missiles at their territories in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.
They issued statements denouncing Iran for violating their sovereignty and reserved the right to respond.
Why It Matters
The Gulf Arab countries host U.S. bases and have been close allies of U.S. President Donald Trump, but before the U.S. and Israeli attacks, had been pushing for diplomacy and had discouraged the use of their countries for strikes on Iran.
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Iran’s attacks, which appeared aimed at the U.S. bases in the Middle East, have not only brought the Gulf countries together in a show of solidarity, but one that is clearly aimed at Iran itself. Their statements did not express concern over the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran as they had done during strikes on the Iranian nuclear program last year.
What Do We Know
Saudi Arabia denounced Iranian attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Jordan.
“The Kingdom affirms its full solidarity with and unwavering support for the brotherly countries, and its readiness to place all its capabilities at their disposal in support of any measures they may undertake,” the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia calls on the international community to condemn these blatant attacks and to take all firm measures necessary to confront Iranian violations that undermine the security and stability of the region.”
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The response from Saudi Arabia carries particular weight because it is the biggest of the countries in the region, it is home to Islam’s holiest sites and it is also the world’s top oil exporter. In recent years, it had seen something of a rapprochement with Iran after decades of strains between largely Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shiite Iran.
Trump said the U.S. had begun "major combat operations," and called for regime change in Iran. Targets included military installations and the Iranian leadership. Iran struck back at U.S. allies in the region, including the Gulf Arab countries as well as Israel.
The UAE condemned the attacks on its own territory and those of “brotherly nations”. The UAE foreign ministry said one Pakistani national had died as a result of the attacks there. Its defense ministry said missiles had been shot down, but some debris had fallen in inhabited areas.
“Any infringement on the sovereignty of any state constitutes a direct threat to the security and stability of the entire region,” the foreign ministry said.
“The UAE reaffirmed its categorical rejection of the use of the territories of regional states as arenas for settling disputes or expanding the scope of conflict, warning of the grave consequences of continued violations, which undermine regional and international security and threaten global economic stability and energy security,” it said, calling for a return to diplomacy.
Qatar also said it reserved the right to respond to the attacks “in accordance with the provisions of international law and in a manner proportionate to the nature of the aggression, in defense of its sovereignty and in protection of its security and national interests.”
What Happens Next
The Iranian attacks on the Arab countries appear not have been highly militarily effective, but to have had the effect of rallying those states and pushing them closer to the U.S. camp. This could mean greater assistance from those countries for the U.S. effort.
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