Gulf States Weary Of Continued Threats From Iraq's Resistance

  

Pro-Iran Resistance attacks upon the Gulf States and Jordan during and after the Iran War have strained relations between Iraq and its neighbors. Before Baghdad was courting them for investment, but now that’s in jeopardy.

 

During the Iran War the Resistance targeted the entire region. The Wall Street Journal reported that there were almost 1,000 drone attacks upon Saudi Arabia alone during the conflict. Kuwait’s civilian airport was also hit. The United Arab Emirates’ and Kuwait’s consulates were struck within Iraq. Bahrain complained about incidents after the ceasefire and on April 24 two Iraqi drones hit a Kuwaiti border post.

 

All this led the Saudis and Bahrain to complain to Iraq’s diplomats in mid-April. The same thing happened after the April 24 strike with the Saudis, Bahrain and Egypt condemning the event.

 

It was then reported that several countries were considering taking their concerns about Iraq to the United Nations.

 

That hasn’t happened yet but what has is the Saudis and the UAE are limiting travel with Iraq. The Saudis have not given out as many visas to Iraqis while the Emiratis banned their nationals from going to Iraq and called on their citizens to leave the country as well.

 

For years after the overthrow of Saddam many Arab states gave Iraq the cold shoulder. They did not approve of the invasion and were weary of the Shiite parties that took power. That was especially true of Saudi Arabia who believed Iraq was an Iranian puppet state. In recent years relations finally improved greatly and there was growing economic cooperation and investment. That is up in the air now as Iraq is again seen as an Iranian proxy that will spread instability throughout the region in any conflict with Tehran.

 

SOURCES

 

Al Alam, “New Visas and Restrictions: A Subtle Gulf Message to Test Baghdad’s Intentions," 4/29/26

 

Al Arabiya, “Bahrain summons Iraqi charge d’affairs over drone attacks launched from Iraq,” 4/13/26

 

Harvey, Katherine, A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy, The Saudi Struggle For Iraq, Oxford University Press, 2022

 

Iraqi News, “UAE bans Emiratis from travel to Iraq,” 5/1/26

 

Kurdistan 24, “Iran-backed Militias Increased Attacks Across Gulf During Regional Conflict,” 4/21/26

 

Al Mada, “Regional States Consider Appealing to UN Security Council Against Iraq Over Armed Faction Attacks,” 4/16/26

 

NINA, “The Interior Minister condemns the drone attack on a Kuwaiti border post," 4/24/26

 

Reuters, “Saudi Arabia summons Iraq envoy over drone threats from Iraqi territory,” 4/12/26

 

Sassoon, Mustafa and Abdallah, Sakina, “Iraqi Factions’ Drone Strikes May Drive Gulf States to Seek International Involvement,” Al Hurra, 4/30/26

 

Shafaq News, “Arab states condemn drone strike from Iraq into Kuwait,” 4/25/26