Arab Nations Condemn Iranian Missile Strikes on U.S. Interests in Middle East

Arab nations across the Middle East have issued strong condemnations after Iran launched a barrage of missile strikes targeting U.S. military installations throughout the region. The attacks, which represent a significant escalation in regional tensions, were carried out in retaliation for recent U.S.-Israeli joint operations against Iranian targets.

According to Pentagon officials, approximately 40 missiles landed in Israel, while U.S. military forces in Iraq successfully intercepted at least one missile aimed at American facilities. Reports indicate Iran also targeted the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, though no casualties were reported.

The wide-ranging Iranian assault extended to Saudi Arabia and Jordan, where the U.S. maintains squadrons of advanced fighter jets. The strikes appear designed to hit U.S. military assets across multiple allied countries, potentially drawing more nations into the widening conflict.

Qatar, which hosts one of the largest U.S. military bases in the region at Al Udeid Air Base, was among the first to respond. In a strongly worded statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said it “reserves its full right” to defend itself against what it described as Iranian aggression targeting Qatari territory. The Defense Ministry reported it had “successfully thwarted a number of attacks” with no immediate injuries or damage reported in residential areas.

The United Arab Emirates’ Defense Ministry confirmed the country “was subjected to a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles,” with air defense systems successfully intercepting multiple incoming projectiles. However, authorities reported that falling debris in a residential area caused “one civilian death of an Asian nationality” along with material damage. The UAE ministry characterized the attack as “a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act” that threatens civilian safety, adding that it “reserves its full right to respond.”

Saudi Arabia, which has had a historically tense relationship with Iran, issued a statement of solidarity with affected nations. The Saudi Foreign Ministry warned of “grave consequences resulting from the continued violation of states’ sovereignty and the principles of international law,” signaling potential further regional destabilization.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II condemned the attacks on his country and other Arab nations, expressing Jordan’s “solidarity with the brotherly Arab countries in confronting any aggressions that affect their sovereignty, security, and stability.” Lebanon’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs similarly “strongly condemns the Iranian attacks,” affirming “its full solidarity with these fellow Arab States.”

Notably, Oman appeared to take a different position, condemning the U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran that preceded the retaliatory strikes. The Omani Foreign Ministry expressed “profound regret over the military operations launched by Israel and the United States of America against the Islamic Republic of Iran,” calling the action “in contravention of the rules of international law.” Oman had been attempting to mediate the escalating situation, with its foreign minister traveling to Washington to meet with Vice President JD Vance just days before the attacks in an effort to avert regional war.

The Iranian strikes specifically avoided U.S. bases in Oman, according to military analysts, likely recognizing Oman’s diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions through nuclear negotiations in Geneva.

These developments mark a dangerous new phase in Middle Eastern conflicts, with Iran directly targeting U.S. military assets across multiple sovereign nations simultaneously. The unified condemnation from Arab states represents a significant diplomatic setback for Iran in the region and could signal further isolation of the Islamic Republic as tensions continue to mount.