US bases expose Gulf allies to Iranian reprisals
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Sowetan
US military bases in the Gulf could become Iranian targets if Donald Trump orders further strikes. The vulnerability dominated discussions at the Manama Dialogue, while Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned that another war would be more dangerous, according to Sowetan.
US military bases in the Gulf could become targets for Iranian reprisals if Washington strikes Iran again, according to officials and participants cited by Reuters. Iranian missiles targeted US military installations and Gulf energy sites during the latest fighting, exposing the vulnerability of countries hosting the bases.
The threat dominated discussions at the Manama Dialogue, an annual security conference held in Bahrain over the weekend before 2 November. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty warned that a new conflict would be more dangerous and destructive than the previous one. Four European officials said US forces deployed in the region could enable an attack in the short term, possibly as soon as this week.
According to two European officials cited by Reuters, a possible US operation would probably target Iranian nuclear sites, including research and development facilities. Iranian officials told the agency that Tehran had drawn up lists of targets for retaliation, including military bases and undersea telecommunications cables. Energy infrastructure, desalination plants and prominent targets in Gulf cities could also be exposed.
Donald Trump’s renewed threat comes after he threatened strikes on Iran, as reported on 31 October. The US president said he could launch a new operation after the midterm elections, due on Tuesday 3 November. Iran warned on 1 November that a new war with the United States would last longer, according to Iranian authorities.
