Trump 'surprised' US allies in the Gulf have been targeted
Donald Trump has expressed surprise that US allies in the Gulf have been targeted by Iran in the ongoing conflict.
“They are terrific countries. They got shot at unnecessarily,”Trump said, adding that Iran’s decision to target these countries was
“the biggest surprise I had of this whole thing.”
For decades, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman have hosted US military bases, infrastructure, or provided access on their soil. These countries have also been among the largest purchasers of American weapons and technology. In return, the US has served as the Gulf’s closest and most significant military partner and protector.
Currently, many of these Gulf states are reconsidering their relationship with the US, according to analysts, as they find themselves increasingly involved in a war they did not initiate and had sought to avoid diplomatically.
While the Gulf anticipated some repercussions, the scale of Iran’s retaliatory campaign has shocked many. Gulf states had assured Tehran that none of their bases would be used for attacks, yet Iran has launched thousands of drones and missiles targeting airports, military bases, oil refineries, ports, hotels, and office buildings.
Welcome summary
Hello and welcome to our continuing coverage of the Middle East conflict and the expanding crisis it is causing.
Donald Trump has indicated that the US may conduct additional strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub. He stated that although Tehran appears willing to negotiate an end to the conflict,
“the terms aren’t good enough yet.”
Trump claimed that US strikes have
“totally demolished”most of Kharg Island, telling NBC News,
“we may hit it a few more times just for fun.”
This marks an escalation in the president’s rhetoric, who had previously stated that US strikes targeted only military sites on Kharg Island.
Here are other recent developments:
Lebanon’s health ministry reported that Israeli strikes have killed 826 people since the start of the war, including 65 women and 106 children. The ministry also stated that 31 paramedics were among the casualties. Local health authorities reported that an Israeli strike killed 12 medical staff at a clinic in the southern town of Burj Qalaouiya.
At least 15 people were killed in a strike by Israel and the US on a factory in the central Iranian city of Isfahan, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The factory, which produces heaters and refrigerators, had workers inside when the strike occurred.
Iran issued an evacuation warning for three major ports in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, including the busiest port in the Middle East, as reported by the Associated Press. Iran alleges that the US has used
“ports, docks and hideouts”in the UAE to launch strikes on Kharg Island. It urged civilians to evacuate areas where US forces are believed to be sheltering.
Trump renewed his call for other nations to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz and stated that the US will coordinate with them amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote:
“The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help – A LOT.”
According to reporting, the Trump administration rejected efforts by Middle Eastern allies to initiate diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war, which began two weeks ago with a large US-Israeli air assault.
The Israeli military announced it killed two senior officials in Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Emergency Command in an airstrike on Tehran. Army spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted on X that Abdullah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat, described as senior figures in the command’s intelligence branch, were killed in the attack.
Israel informed the US this week that it is critically low on ballistic missile interceptors as the conflict with Iran continues, according to Semafor, citing US officials familiar with the matter.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr accused news broadcasters of
“running hoaxes and news distortions”amid the Iran war in a post on X. He wrote:
“Broadcasters that are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.”
Formula One has cancelled the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grand Prix events due to the war, highlighting the disruption across the Middle East. The races were scheduled for 12 April in Bahrain and 19 April in Saudi Arabia. The sport was approaching a decision point to prevent further freight shipments to Bahrain.
