Iran’s Immediate and Ferocious Retaliation
Within hours of the devastating US-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury, Iran launched its retaliatory campaign — “Operation True Promise 4.” The Islamic Republic unleashed hundreds of ballistic missiles and armed drones targeting Israeli territory, US military installations across the Middle East, and civilian infrastructure in several Arab nations hosting American forces.
Targets included US military bases in the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the strikes were a “proportionate response” to what they termed “unprovoked aggression against a sovereign nation engaged in active peace negotiations.” Hezbollah simultaneously launched a barrage of missiles into Israel from southern Lebanon, further widening the theater of conflict.
Civilian Infrastructure Under Fire: Airports, Ports, and Hotels Hit
Reports from the Carnegie Endowment and Al Jazeera confirm that Iranian strikes did not discriminate between military and civilian targets. Airports, commercial ports, and even luxury hotels across the Gulf states were damaged. The UAE, particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, reportedly bore the brunt of Iran’s early attacks, with fires reported near luxury hotels in Dubai and Dubai International Airport sustaining damage.
All six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have confirmed they were targeted by Iranian drone and missile strikes. The Bahraini and Qatari governments issued emergency advisories, temporarily closing airspace and evacuating key military zones. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia activated their Patriot and THAAD missile defense systems, intercepting dozens of incoming projectiles.
A Regional War with No Clear Endgame
Military analysts warn that Operation True Promise 4 has fundamentally transformed what began as a bilateral US-Iran confrontation into a full-scale regional conflict. With multiple sovereign nations now directly attacked, the pressure on Gulf states to formally enter the conflict — either through NATO-like mutual defense pacts or independent military action — is mounting by the hour.
The UN Security Council held an emergency session on February 28, 2026, with France and Colombia requesting the meeting following the US-Israeli strikes, while China and Russia called for a separate session condemning what they termed “the unprovoked and reckless act of military aggression by the United States and Israel.” Pakistan condemned both the initial operation and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf nations.
