Renewed US-Iran war would hit Gulf countries hard
After US strikes on Iran, Iran targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. Even if Iran isn't targeting the governments or populations of its
After US strikes on Iran, Iran targeted US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. Even if Iran isn't targeting the governments or populations of its neighbors, Gulf countries have much to lose as fighting escalates. Yet again, countries in the Gulf region find themselves on the front line between the United States and Iran. At the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said the US's interim accord to end the conflict was "over." And Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said there had been major violations of the accord, a memorandum of understanding signed by both countries in mid-June. Overnight, the United States bombed sites in Iran, which responded by targeting 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. All countries in the Gulf region have something to lose should fighting escalate again. US, Iran exchange strikes for second night To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Bahrain is home to a major US Navy base. The recent strikes by Iran saw the country hit directly. As Bahrain is among the smaller Gulf countries, US military installations tend to be closer to residential and commercial areas than in its neighbors. Even limited fighting disrupts civilian life. Politically, Bahrain is in a particularly difficult position. Like other Gulf countries, Bahrain is a monarchy and represses most political dissent. But, in contrast to other Gulf countries, Bahrain's royal family are Sunni.
Estimates suggest that the majority of the population is Shiite. Iran is a Shiite theocracy. Ongoing fighting between Iran and the United States could create tensions within Bahrain, where the government has arrested hundreds of people who allegedly posted anti-war messages online, expressed "sympathy" with Iran or participated in demonstrations, or who the government claims were "spies" working for Iran. Kuwait hosts the largest number of US bases in the Middle East. This includes two air bases and about 13,500 personnel, including contractors. This has made Kuwait a target for Iranian strikes. Previously Kuwait was more cautious with its foreign policy, often positioning itself as a mediator and emphasizing that it did not want to play a role in the current conflict. Iraq's 1990 invasion was a factor in shaping Kuwait's foreign policy, which is far less activist than those of its neighbors. However the fact that Iran has attacked Kuwait because of its US bases is likely to cause this attitude to evolve. Observers have already noted how the Kuwait government's protests about Iranian strikes have become more forthright. Camp Arifjan in Kuwait hosts about 10,000 US troops Saudi Arabia Though Iranian officials have indicated that no country that hosts US troops is safe, Iran has not yet attacked Saudi Arabia during this week's renewed fighting. Saudi Arabia is home to a major US air force base. After years of competing with Iran for regional influence, Saudi Arabia has stressed that diplomacy must be the answer if Gulf countries are to coexist in relative peace.
The BriefWire