High-Stakes battle over oil and air defenses heats up between the US and Gulf states
On Monday, the crisis between the US and the Gulf countries entered a new turning point as its pace escalated amidst the intensifying confrontations with Iran.
Exclusive – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:
In the latest reports, Bahrain revealed the failure of American defense systems, with a reverse fall recorded, and caused significant damage.
It is not yet clear whether the American step in Bahrain was due to the collapse of the radar system installed by America along the Gulf strip parallel to Iran or as part of mutual pressure messages.
The incident came on the eve of new tension between America and the Gulf countries; US Secretary of War “Pete Hegseth” hinted at his country halting the supply of defensive ammunition to its Gulf allies, saying that his country gives greater attention to its own bases and forces.
The US Secretary of War’s statement coincided with renewed demands by US Congressman “Lindsey Graham” for Gulf countries to engage in the war, pointing out that his country will not fight alone and affirming the necessity of controlling Iran’s oil, similar to the Venezuelan case, under the pretext of strangling China.
In contrast, Gulf countries began moving outside the American framework; Bahrain announced “force majeure” to halt oil production, while Saudi Arabia began reducing production in several fields, according to international reports, and Kuwait and Qatar had already previously stopped production “by force.”
The Gulf steps were seen as attempts to pressure America to provide it with protection, as missiles and drones violate their lands inhabited by American bases. For its part, the UAE knocked on the doors of other countries searching for defense systems; the president’s advisor, “Abdulkhaleq Abdulla,” confirmed the arrival of a shipment of defensive missiles from South Korea, affirming that his country is in great distress and praising what he described as “Korea’s rescue” of it.
Emirati elites had rejected an American request to engage in the war, affirming that it would not be imposed on them by force.
These developments reflect the magnitude of the crisis between the most prominent allies in the region; Gulf countries have turned into an open war zone as America intensifies its use of them as an advanced base in its war on Iran, while it ignores providing the most basic elements of protection for it.