Iran, responding to the US-Israeli operation, attacked not only Israel but also countries in the Persian Gulf. Tehran said it was targeting American bases, which it treats as US territory, but civilian sites were also hit, including airports, hotels, and residential buildings.
For years, the states of the region tried to preserve a balance: they viewed Iran as a threat, while also seeking workable ties. The UAE returned its ambassador to Tehran in 2022, and Saudi Arabia agreed in March 2023 to restore embassy operations. After Donald Trump returned to the White House, Gulf states stressed that they did not want to be drawn into open confrontation and were unwilling to let their territory be used for strikes on Iran.
After the current crisis began, Tehran warned it would strike bases if the United States used them. By the evening of February 28, 2026, Iranian media said 14 American facilities had been attacked. Bahrain confirmed a strike on the command center of the US Fifth Fleet headquarters, Kuwait reported casualties from an attack on Ali al-Salem Air Base, and the US military first spoke of minimal damage before later officially reporting three deaths and five serious injuries.
At the same time, the attacks affected civilian infrastructure. Strikes were reported on airports in Iraqi Kurdistan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. In Dubai, a missile fall caused a major fire at the Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah, while in Abu Dhabi debris from an intercepted missile killed one person. According to UAE authorities, by Sunday evening three people had been killed in the country and about 60 wounded.
Experts interviewed by Novaya Gazeta Europe say Iran is not only retaliating against military targets but also trying to intimidate its neighbors by damaging the Gulf states’ image as safe financial and tourism hubs. On March 2, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, the UAE, and the United States jointly condemned the Iranian missile and drone attacks while also asserting their right to self-defense.