Arab Saudi is reportedly angered by what it perceives as a shift in U.S. Air defense systems to prioritize the protection of Israel.
A Saudi official expressed concern that this repositioning leaves Gulf nations, which host U.S. Military bases, more vulnerable to potential attacks from Iran. The development underscores increasing anxieties among regional allies regarding the U.S.’s commitment to their security.
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“The U.S. Has essentially left us to fend for ourselves and redirected its air defenses to protect Israel. This leaves Gulf nations hosting U.S. Military bases exposed to potential attacks from Iran,” the Saudi official said, remaining anonymous, according to News 18.
On Monday, March 2, 2026, both Qatar and Saudi Arabia reported successfully intercepting several Iranian drones targeting U.S. Military installations.
AFP reported that Qatar’s Ministry of Defense stated two Iranian drones targeted power plants and energy facilities within the country.
One drone was aimed at a water tank at the Mesaieed power plant south of Doha. The other targeted an energy facility in Ras Laffan, on the northern coast, a major hub for Qatar’s liquefied natural gas production.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the headquarters of the Israeli air force commander.
“The office of the criminal prime minister of the Zionist regime and the headquarters of the commander of its air force were targeted,” the Guard Corps stated, as cited by the Fars news agency.
The accusations follow a large-scale U.S. Military operation against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28, 2026. The operation targeted several key Iranian military facilities, including missile sites, naval bases, and areas near the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
(rnp/bac)
