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Gulf allies complain US didn't notify them of Iran attacks and ignored their warnings, sources say - AP News

📉 Gulf allies complain they were not notified about US attacks on Iran and ignored regional warnings, sources say.

😡 Officials from two unnamed Gulf countries expressed anger over perceived US focus on defending Israel at the expense of their security.

⚠️ One official warned that his nation's interceptor stockpiles are rapidly depleting while facing continuous Iranian attacks.

🤫 The statements were made under conditions of anonymity regarding a confidential diplomatic matter involving Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

🗣️ Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief, publicly stated the conflict is "Netanyahu’s war" and convinced President Trump to support his views.

🚀 Since the start of the war, Iran has fired at least 380 missiles and over 1,480 drones targeting five Arab Gulf countries according to an AP tally.

😢 At least 13 people have been killed in the Gulf nations during Iranian attacks, including six US soldiers killed by a drone strike in Kuwait.

🚧 Pentagon officials admitted in closed briefings that they are struggling to stop waves of drones and leave U.S. targets vulnerable.

💥 Recent drone attacks caused fires at the Saudi Arabian embassy in Riyadh and sparked a fire outside the US consulate in Dubai.

🇺🇦 President Trump indicated openness to receiving assistance from Ukraine regarding expertise in countering Iran's Shahed drones.

🧐 Analysts suggest the US underestimated risk to Gulf Arab allies by believing Israel and American troops were primary targets.

👀 Bader Mousa Al-Saif criticized the lack of a plan to protect Gulf countries as evidence of US short-sightedness.

📉 Some frustration stems from Israel's relative success in knocking down drones compared to perceived US defensive capabilities.

🏛️ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman Gen. Dan Caine were asked but offered no details on why the US seemed unprepared for drone waves.

🗣️ White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended the operation, claiming Iranian attacks decreased by 90% and Iran is a terrorist regime.

Bullish Signals
  • White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that Iran's retaliatory ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90% due to Operation Epic Fury.
  • President Trump is in close contact with all regional partners, demonstrating strong coordination and support for allies.
  • The President has signaled openness to assistance from Ukraine, stating 'Certainly, I'll take, you know, any assistance from any country' to help counter Iranian drones.
Risk Factors
  • Mounting discontent from Persian Gulf allies who complain they were not given adequate time to prepare for the torrent of Iranian drones and missiles bombarding their countries.
  • The U.S. military has been accused of leaving Gulf countries to protect themselves while focusing on defending Israel and American troops, with one official noting that a country's stock of interceptors is rapidly depleting.
  • Since the start of the war, Iran has fired at least 380 missiles and over 1,480 drones targeting five Arab Gulf countries, according to an AP tally, resulting in at least 13 deaths in those countries.
  • Six U.S. soldiers were killed in Kuwait on Sunday when an Iranian drone strike hit an operations center in a civilian port, highlighting vulnerabilities where targets lack defenses.
  • Pentagon officials admitted they are struggling to stop waves of drones launched by Iran, leaving some U.S. targets including troops in the Gulf region vulnerable.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine conceded that the U.S. will not be able to intercept many incoming UAVs, especially Shaheds, during briefings with lawmakers.
  • U.S. officials admitted they do not have widespread capabilities throughout the Gulf region to effectively counter waves of one-way drones coming to places outside conventional targets or bases outside Iraq and Syria.
  • Public figures with close ties to Gulf governments are openly critical of the U.S., suggesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dragged President Donald Trump into a needless war.
  • The U.S. and its allies even sought help from Ukraine to counter Iran's Shahed drones, indicating a significant capability gap in regional defense strategies.
  • Analysts suggest the U.S. underestimated the risk to its Gulf Arab allies, with one expert stating the lack of a plan to protect the Gulf countries speaks to U.S. short-sightedness.
Full Analysis
Gulf allies are expressing significant discontent with the Trump administration regarding its handling of Iran's retaliatory attacks, alleging they were left unprepared for a barrage of Iranian drones and missiles. Officials from multiple Gulf nations stated their governments felt disappointed that the U.S. did not provide advance notice of the initial U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28 and dismissed regional warnings about catastrophic consequences. These officials voiced frustration that U.S. military efforts have primarily focused on protecting Israel and American troops, while leaving Arab states to defend themselves against rapidly depleting interceptor stocks. Prince Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence chief, publicly characterized the conflict as "Netanyahu's war," suggesting the Israeli Prime Minister convinced President Donald Trump to support a strategy driven by his own views. The diplomatic strain has intensified as Pentagon officials acknowledged struggles in intercepting waves of Iranian drones, particularly Shahed models, leaving some U.S. targets and allied forces vulnerable across the Gulf region. According to an AP tally based on official statements, since the start of the war Iran has fired at least 380 missiles and over 1,480 drones targeting five Arab Gulf countries. Casualties include at least 13 people killed in the region and six U.S. soldiers who died on Sunday in Kuwait when an Iranian drone strike hit an undefended operations center at a civilian port. Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine conceded to lawmakers that widespread counter-drone capabilities are lacking outside of Iraq and Syria, though they offered no specific details on preparedness failures during briefings. In response to the criticism, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly stated that Iranian retaliatory ballistic missile attacks had decreased by 90% due to "Operation Epic Fury" crippling Iran's ability to produce or launch weapons. She emphasized that President Trump remains in close contact with regional partners while asserting the necessity of eliminating the Iranian threat. Meanwhile, U.S. officials have begun seeking assistance from Ukraine, leveraging its expertise in countering Shahed drones, a move President Trump acknowledged by stating he would take any assistance available. However, analysts like Bader Mousa Al-Saif of Chatham House argue that Washington underestimated the risk to Gulf Arab allies and that the lack of a protective plan for these nations reflects strategic short-sightedness compared to Israel's greater success in intercepting incoming threats.