Regional Powers Cannot Substitute U.S. For Gulf’s Defense Against Iran
Key takeaways
- Aerospace & Defense Regional Powers Cannot Substitute U.S.
- Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights.
- Iran and its regional militia proxies fired missiles and drones at the Gulf states throughout the war, with the United Arab Emirates enduring the brunt of these attacks.
Aerospace & Defense Regional Powers Cannot Substitute U.S. For Gulf’s Defense Against Iran By Paul Iddon,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Paul Iddon is a freelance journalist focused on Middle East affairs.Follow Author May 23, 2026, 03:16pm EDTMay 23, 2026, 03:29pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.An Egyptian French-made Dassault Rafale fighter jet deployed to the United Arab Emirates. (UAE Ministry of Defense photo)UAE Ministry of DefenseThe U.S.-Israel war against Iran, launched on February 28, saw Tehran take the unprecedented step of repeatedly targeting all six Arab Gulf monarchical member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council with ballistic missile and explosive drones. After the April 8 ceasefire halted hostilities, some in the Gulf states began questioning why larger regional powers like Egypt didn’t do more to help defend them against Iran.
Iran and its regional militia proxies fired missiles and drones at the Gulf states throughout the war, with the United Arab Emirates enduring the brunt of these attacks. The UAE’s world-class air defense found itself under unprecedented strain, and the daily Iranian attacks undermined its carefully cultivated reputation for security and stability that Abu Dhabi strove to uphold for decades.