Middle East in Flux

Iran's retaliation against US-Israeli bases signals a new Middle East era, awakening Muslim unity and diminishing old superpower influence.

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military bases in the Middle East came as a surprise to the Gulf countries. Neither the US nor Israel expected these attacks at all.

Both aggressors believed that Iran would never attack its Muslim neighbours and that Tehran lacked the air power to strike so many bases at once. That assumption quickly collapsed.

Missiles and drones created chaos across the Gulf, while the United States showed little interest in protecting its regional partners.

Iran has since clarified that it is not targeting its Muslim neighbours. According to Tehran, the strikes focused on US bases used for espionage and attacks against Iran. Iranian officials have also stated that no further assaults will be directed at neighbouring Muslim countries.

Although neighbouring countries showed patience at first, the situation changed when some attacks began to affect their civilian assets, They then issued stern warnings to Iran, stating that they reserved the right to retaliate.

This, in turn, shows Israel's broader aim of weakening these Muslim countries and provoking them to turn against one another.

The Gulf countries have urged the United States to cease its attacks, but President Trump has so far ignored these appeals, surprising many of Washington's regional allies. Internal discussions about dismantling US bases have already begun, a development that could mark a turning point for the Gulf and potentially narrow the gap between Persians and Arabs.

One reality now haunts the Gulf region: the United States left Arab countries exposed while rushing missile interceptors to protect Israel, even as defensive systems in the Gulf became increasingly scarce.

It was widely understood that the United States was sacrificing certain countries to protect Israel. This decision has created significant problems, as the people of these nations are increasingly angry with their rulers.