Lack of notice about Iran strikes and defense help frustrates some Gulf nations, AP sources say

The Trump administration is facing significant backlash from Persian Gulf allies who claim they received inadequate warning before Iran unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles against their territories in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes.

Officials from two Gulf nations expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. handling of the escalating conflict. Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of diplomatic communications, they stated they were not given advance notice of the initial U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran last Saturday. The officials added that their prior warnings about the potential for devastating regional consequences had been disregarded.

One official was particularly blunt, describing Gulf nations as “frustrated” and “angry” over what they perceive as inadequate U.S. military protection. The official claimed that American defensive operations have prioritized Israel and U.S. troops while leaving Gulf countries to fend for themselves with rapidly depleting interceptor stocks.

The White House pushed back against these criticisms. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly asserted that “Iran’s retaliatory ballistic missile attacks have decreased by 90% because Operation Epic Fury is crushing their ability to shoot these weapons or produce more.” She emphasized that President Trump remains “in close contact with all of our regional partners” and defended the military action as “imperative” for protecting U.S. and allied interests.

While official responses from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain have been restrained, public figures with government connections have voiced criticism. Former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal told CNN, “This is Netanyahu’s war. He somehow convinced the president to support his views,” suggesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had pulled Trump into an unnecessary conflict.

The reality on the ground appears increasingly dire. Pentagon officials acknowledged in closed congressional briefings this week that they are struggling to counter Iran’s drone attacks, leaving U.S. personnel and facilities in the Gulf vulnerable. The region presents an attractive target set for Iran, with its concentration of American troops, high-profile business centers, tourist destinations, and critical energy infrastructure that affects global oil supplies.

Since hostilities began, Iran has launched approximately 380 missiles and over 1,480 drones targeting the five Arab Gulf countries, according to an Associated Press tally of official statements. These attacks have killed at least 13 people in those nations. Additionally, six U.S. soldiers died in Kuwait on Sunday when an Iranian drone struck an operations center at a civilian port over 10 miles from the main Army base. The facility reportedly had minimal defensive capabilities.

In briefings to Congress on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine admitted the U.S. cannot intercept many incoming drones, particularly the Shahed models. When pressed by lawmakers about the apparent lack of preparedness, they provided few specifics.

The situation has become so critical that the U.S. and its Middle Eastern allies reportedly sought assistance from Ukraine, which has developed expertise in countering Iranian Shahed drones during its conflict with Russia. When asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s comments on this outreach, Trump told Reuters, “Certainly, I’ll take, you know, any assistance from any country.”

Bader Mousa Al-Saif, a Kuwait-based analyst with Chatham House, suggested the U.S. had underestimated the risk to its Gulf Arab partners, believing American forces and Israel would bear the brunt of Iranian retaliation. “I don’t think they saw that there would be as much exposure to the Gulf,” he said, calling the lack of protective measures “U.S. short-sightedness.”

Adding to regional frustrations is the disparity between Israel’s relatively successful air defense operations and the struggles experienced by some Gulf nations. U.S. officials have reportedly expressed confusion over Gulf countries’ reluctance to launch counterstrikes against Iran despite the ongoing attacks.

Elliott Abrams, who served as special representative for Iran during Trump’s first term, noted that while U.S. officials and Gulf allies were aware of Iran’s strike capabilities, “it was never clear that Iran would actually do it, because they have a lot to lose.” He warned that continued attacks could lead Gulf Arab states to eventually take offensive action against Iran.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Michael Ratney highlighted the Gulf countries’ complex position. While they benefit from seeing Iran weakened, they also face economic damage and regional instability from the ongoing conflict. Ratney raised the critical question hanging over the region: “What comes next? The countries of the Gulf will have to bear the brunt of whatever that is.”