Foreign ministers from Gulf states targeted by Iran's intensive attacks held an emergency meeting, strongly condemning Iran and warning of possible military response.
According to AFP on the 2nd (local time), foreign ministers from the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait—convened a video conference the previous day, denouncing "the widespread damage caused by Iran's treacherous attacks."
In a statement released after the meeting, the ministers warned, "We will take all necessary measures to defend national security, stability, and protect our territories, including options to respond to the attacks." They added, "Stability in the Gulf region is not merely a regional concern but a fundamental pillar of global economic stability," urging Iran to immediately cease its attacks.
Major cities in Gulf states hosting U.S. military bases—including Dubai, Doha, and Manama—have been under intensive Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks since the war began on the 28th of last month. Iranian missiles and drones have struck not only U.S. military facilities but also infrastructure including airports, refineries, and data centers, as well as civilian residential and commercial buildings such as apartments and hotels. This has disrupted logistics and business activities while causing numerous civilian casualties.
The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that as of the 1st, a total of 165 ballistic missiles and 541 drones had been launched from Iran. Of these, 35 drones penetrated air defenses and fell within UAE territory, killing three people. In protest against Iran's attacks, the UAE plans to close its embassy in Iran and withdraw all diplomatic personnel.
Iran's attacks have also targeted Qatar, which has served as a mediator between Iran and Israel. Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, "Our fighter jets intercepted Iranian drones and projectiles targeting civilian infrastructure, including the international airport."
U.S. Big Tech companies have also suffered damage. Amazon Web Services (AWS) stated, "Three of our data centers in the Middle East region were hit by drone attacks." AWS added, "Two facilities in the UAE were directly struck, and in Bahrain, a drone attack near one of our facilities caused infrastructure damage." The attacks reportedly cut power supply to the infrastructure, with additional flooding damage occurring during firefighting efforts. Given the nature of the physical damage, recovery work is expected to be prolonged, though AWS says it is working to restore services quickly.
Iran's large-scale attacks targeting civilian facilities in neighboring Gulf states are considered highly unusual. Some experts suggest Iran is strategically attacking civilian facilities in GCC countries, which are vulnerable to air defense, to maximize the psychological impact of its attacks.