The Gulf Countries Under Stress, Further Attacks on Qatar (Which Proves Vulnerable)

In response to the joint raids by the United States and Israel against targets in Iran, Tehran has launched a wide-ranging retaliation campaign, targeting the Gulf countries that host major U.S. military installations.

Among the most significant targets are Bahrain and Qatar, essential hubs for Washington's power projection in the region.

In Manama, Bahrain, the primary target was the Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet of the U.S. Navy, a crucial infrastructure for controlling the chessboard from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea and for the security of energy routes.

Satellite analyses have indicated that the impact along the perimeter of the base was more severe than initially reported: an inexpensive, mass-produced drone known as "Shahed" reportedly managed to breach defenses and strike the naval infrastructure. The action highlighted the effectiveness of saturation tactics, with swarms of slow-flying aircraft and missiles launched simultaneously to overwhelm advanced radar and interception systems.

The damage also affected civilian areas: in Manama, debris falling during interceptions struck residential neighborhoods, skyscrapers, and even the financial district where the Israeli embassy is located.

A few hundred kilometers further west, Qatar also experienced days of high tension, with skies intermittently crossed by defensive countermeasures. In this case, the target was the Al Udeid Air Base, a forward operating base of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Between March 1 and March 5, 2026, the capital Doha was shaken by recurring explosions.

Despite Qatari authorities reassuring the population about the availability of Patriot interceptor missiles, daily life was abruptly interrupted: schools, offices, and even the Qatar Central Bank adopted remote work, while citizens received continuous alerts to stay sheltered. Air traffic faced heavy restrictions, with delays and diversions, and international energy markets trembled over potential risks to Saudi oil infrastructure and liquefied natural gas facilities in Qatar.

On the political-diplomatic front, the crisis has revealed a complex network of alliances, but also deep discontent. On one hand, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Qatar, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia) issued a joint statement with the United States to condemn the Iranian attacks and reaffirm the right to self-defense; on the other hand, there is a marked dissatisfaction brewing. Diplomatic sources indicate the discontent of several Arab allies towards Washington, accused of providing very little notice before its attack on Iran. The few minutes available did not allow for the activation of adequate emergency plans to secure densely populated cities.

The conflict has also seen unusual moves on the communication front. On March 7, 2026, the interim Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, issued a message of "apology" for the collateral damage suffered by neighboring countries, in a clear attempt to influence the international narrative in an expanding war theater.

For the United States, this crisis goes beyond the tactical or strictly military dimension. The protection of installations in Bahrain and Qatar represents the true test of the credibility of the security guarantees offered to regional partners. In the coming weeks, the central issue will inevitably be preventive communication with the Arab capitals: Washington will need to demonstrate that it can defend not only its strategic assets but also the stability of a Gulf that has never been so vulnerable and exposed.