By HAN News Desk
RIYADH – A Saudi political analyst interviewed by Al Jazeera said the evolving conflict in the Middle East reflects what he described as a significant shift in the regional military strategy of the United States, suggesting Washington has repositioned some of its forces in the Gulf to prioritize defending Israel against escalating attacks from Iran.
Speaking during the interview, the analyst said the United States appears to have reduced or redistributed parts of its military presence across the Gulf region, concentrating air defense systems, intelligence capabilities and rapid-response forces closer to Israel. The shift, he said, is intended to counter missile barrages and drone strikes believed to have been launched by Iran and allied groups toward Israeli territory in recent weeks.
The reported repositioning has created growing concern among Gulf Arab states that host American military facilities. Governments in the region worry that their territories could become targets as tensions intensify. Reports have also emerged of strikes and attempted attacks linked to Iran targeting sites associated with U.S. forces in countries including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
Analysts say these developments have raised fears that the confrontation could expand beyond isolated exchanges and draw more states into the conflict. According to the Saudi analyst, the current escalation increasingly resembles a direct confrontation between Iran and Israel rather than the proxy conflicts that have shaped earlier tensions in the region.
Gulf Arab countries now face a delicate balancing act. On one hand, they host key U.S. military bases that could become targets during retaliatory strikes. On the other, they are trying to avoid being pulled into a broader regional war while maintaining strategic partnerships with Washington.
Tensions intensified after joint U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iranian targets in late February 2026, which analysts say triggered retaliatory attacks directed at Israeli territory as well as locations linked to U.S. military infrastructure across the region. Since then, several governments in the Gulf have increased security measures, strengthened air defense systems and engaged in urgent diplomatic consultations.
The analyst said Washington’s approach appears to represent a strategic recalibration rather than a full withdrawal from the Gulf. However, the perception that U.S. priorities have shifted toward Israel’s immediate defense has sparked debate among Gulf policymakers and security experts about long-term regional stability and the risks of further escalation.
He warned that if the cycle of strikes and counterstrikes continues, the Middle East could face a prolonged period of instability, with Gulf states caught between maintaining security partnerships with the United States and preventing their territories from becoming front lines in a wider conflict.
