Six Arab nations condemned on Wednesday the attacks launched by Iranian-backed armed factions from Iraqi territory against facilities and infrastructure in Gulf countries. The nations, which include Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan, regarded these attacks as a blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law, and a clear breach of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which obliges Iran to cease any aggression against neighboring countries immediately.
In their statement, the six nations held the Iraqi government responsible for taking the necessary measures to stop the armed factions' attacks from its territory, while emphasizing their full right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Details of the Incident
In their analysis of the situation, analysts stated in remarks to Al Jazeera Net that the statement reflects a qualitative shift in the nature of the threat faced by Gulf countries. The strikes are no longer coming directly from Iran; instead, they are being carried out by armed factions within Iraq, reflecting an Iranian strategy aimed at circumventing international decisions and avoiding direct legal responsibility. This shift is seen as a restructuring of the conflict through more flexible and less politically costly tools.
Analysts also confirmed that the use of proxies reflects a calculated Iranian strategy aimed at expanding the scope of conflict without bearing the direct political cost. At the same time, Iraq is facing increasing pressure to control its territory, as these attacks aim to test the resilience of Gulf cohesion and exhaust air defenses.
Context and Background
Since the onset of the American-Israeli war against Iran on February 28, 2026, the region has witnessed a multi-front escalation, with Gulf countries being targeted by missile and drone attacks. Although Iran insists it does not target specific countries, but rather American bases in those countries, the armed factions loyal to it have become an active secondary front in the conflict equation.
Former Iraqi army general Majid Al-Qaisi revealed that the armed factions within the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" have conducted between 21 and 31 operations daily against what they describe as "American bases," noting that these operations include targets in Gulf countries and Jordan, with over 454 operations recorded since the war began.
Implications and Effects
These attacks pose a significant challenge to Iraq, which may find itself a battleground it does not fully control, raising questions about Baghdad's sovereignty. Analysts point out that the continuation of these actions places Iraq in a position of responsibility towards Gulf countries and the world, as the presence of armed factions operating outside the state's framework threatens Iraqi sovereignty.
Former minister and Kuwaiti MP Dr. Ahmad Abdul Mohsen Al-Mulaifi warned that this escalation could turn into a real ground threat if US President Donald Trump decides to carry out his threats of a ground invasion of Iran, potentially opening fronts across the Kuwaiti and Saudi borders.
Impact on the Arab Region
The transition from direct strikes to proxy attacks represents a strategic shift in managing the pathways of war. The confrontation is no longer a clear-cut binary; it has become intertwined through a network of active proxies, placing Gulf countries in a dilemma on how to respond to a threat emanating from within an Arab state without slipping into a regional war.
The Executive Director of the Middle East Council for International Affairs in Doha, Dr. Khalid Al-Jaber, considered that the targeting by factions within Iraq represents a change in the rules of engagement, indicating that Iran is not withdrawing from the confrontation but redistributing it through politically less costly tools. This deliberate complexity presents new challenges for Gulf countries in how to deal with these threats.
In conclusion, experts indicate that the Gulf stance will remain defensive, but each attack raises the cost of patience, potentially transforming it from a show of strength into a source of weakness. The message is clear: "Gulf security is steadfast and not to be tested, and dealing with threats must be approached with a state mentality, but patience is not limitless."