The war against the regime of the Islamic Republic is reshaping the strategic landscape of the entire region and creating a military alignment between the United States, Israel, and Gulf Cooperation Council states, unlike anything seen before.
“This is an unprecedented war,” Col. (ret.) Abbas Dahouk, former senior military adviser for Middle Eastern Affairs at the US Department of State, told Defense & Tech by The Jerusalem Post. “The objective is to deny Iran the ability to operate beyond its borders - addressing not just the nuclear program, but its missiles, drones, and naval assets as well.”
And for the first time, Israel and the United States are fully integrated in this effort. The force multiplier created by this cooperation has been so far successful in striking hundreds of targets in Iran and suppressing retaliatory fire against Israel and neighboring Gulf countries.
On Monday, the UAE announced that since the start of the attack, 174 ballistic missiles had been detected to have been launched toward the country, with 161 of them destroyed, while 13 fell into the sea.
Some 689 Iranian drones had been detected, and 645 were intercepted, while 44 fell within the country's territory. Another eight cruise missiles were detected and destroyed. In the UAE, three people have so far been killed, and another 68 suffered 68 minor injuries. While the large majority of the projectiles had been intercepted, others did succeed in hitting targets, striking Dubai International Airport and the famous Burj al Arab and Palm Jumeirah hotels.
Dahouk called the strikes on the UAE “mind-boggling.” “Launching hundreds of missiles at the UAE raises a fundamental question,” he said. “What was Iran hoping to achieve?”
Brunt of the attack
The numbers out of the UAE, according to some reports, over half of all the missiles fired by Iran, have led it and other Gulf countries to condemn Iran and warn that they would not sit idly by.
Gulf States such as Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia are said to already be involved in intercepting hostile targets. The third day of the war even saw Qatar down two SU-24 fighter jets after the country was targeted by ballistic missiles and drones.
The level of participation by Gulf States that have historically remained neutral or sat on the sidelines is extraordinary. Until now, they had hosted US bases or troops, or bought US weapons, while urging a diplomatic process to deal with Iran’s nuclear program.
Prior to the war, several Gulf states warned against a military campaign, and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan had said that they wouldn't allow the Americans to launch airstrikes against Iran from their territory.
But since being hit, everything has changed.
“The strikes on its cities are imposing real costs on the UAE, requiring it to prioritize homeland defense and operate defensively,” Dahouk said.
Saudi Arabia, he added, initially hesitated to join the effort or allow US use of its bases. “However, after being targeted, they recognized the IRGC’s intentions and chose to condemn the Iranian government and fight back.”
Turning point
According to Dahouk, the 2021 decision to move Israel into the US Central Command (CENTCOM) structure was a turning point. It forced Arab militaries and Israel to train, plan, and rehearse together – something that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.
“Israel’s integration into CENTCOM was transformative,” he said. “It brought regional partners into operational alignment with Israel and enabled the U.S. and Israel to quietly mature counter-Iran plans over years of joint exercises and coordination. What we are seeing now is the execution of long-prepared concepts. ”
The result, he said, is a level of coordination that allows hundreds of aircraft to operate simultaneously, refueling one another, striking hidden targets, and countering Iran’s drone and missile networks.
Iran, he noted, is a vast country, but the massive opening round by Israel and the United States has degraded its air‑defense network.
“The Saudis have both the capacity and the operational experience to carry out an effective air campaign, and Iran no longer retains the air-defense capability it once relied on.”
Saudi and Emirati air forces have indeed used fighter jets to shoot down missiles and drones, with Dahouk describing it as "an expensive but effective tactic". This approach was part of their defense strategy against the Houthis.
The Gulf states, he said, “hold sufficient inventories of Patriot and THAAD interceptors, alongside other air-defense systems and early-warning networks that can be seamlessly integrated into combat operations.”
Still, Dahouk emphasized that technology alone does not win wars: “If a system isn’t integrated into the wider defense architecture and operators aren’t thoroughly trained, it has little value. The U.S. and Israeli militaries distinguish themselves through constant rehearsal and preparation.” He added, “This war is far more complex than it appears.”
Gulf States under pressure
The US and Israel have ample firepower and readiness to fight, said Dahouk, a former US Defense and Army attaché to Saudi Arabia, but what the region needs now is stronger regional defensive alignment, not more technology.
“The Gulf states have enough capability,” he said. “The real advantage comes from integrating early-warning systems and joint operations centers so nothing catches them by surprise.”
Gulf states, he noted, possess sufficient stockpiles of Patriot and THAAD interceptors, advanced early-warning systems, drones, and some of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world. However, they are increasingly feeling both the economic burden of sustaining these capabilities and the political pressure associated with employing them.
“With these capabilities, they are able to defend themselves without relying entirely on the United States,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is considered the most powerful and well-funded military in the area after Israel, and, according to Dahouk, has been effectively rehearsing for war since 2015 through its long conflict with the Houthis.
Of all the countries involved, Saudi Arabia has had the lowest number of attacks, being struck fewer than five times by Iranian projectiles. According to a report by The Atlantic Council, “Iran may have calculated that Saudi Arabia was the most likely of the Gulf countries to respond militarily, and so refrained from major attacks.”
While it likely would not take offensive action, Riyadh also stands to benefit from a weakened Iran, the report said, as Tehran has been the greatest threat to the kingdom’s regional ambitions and oil infrastructure.
Gulf ultimately has no choice
From a logistical and strategic standpoint, Dahouk explained that the way Iran has retaliated has pushed the Gulf states toward deeper cooperation with the US and Israel.
“The region must view the Iranian regime as a common threat alongside the United States and Israel,” he added. “At this moment, they have little alternative.”
The scale and frequency of Iranian attacks against neighboring states have also reshaped public perceptions, influencing how regional populations view Iran and the prospect of direct confrontation.
“The regional states now have the option to act collectively and decisively rather than responding incrementally,” Dahouk said.