Iran, the underrated underdog, has sent the Gulf into panic mode. It has hit the US embassy in Riyadh and its consulate in Dubai with combat drones, taking America and the Gulf by surprise. Earlier in the week, Iran’s drones hit Dubai International Airport, and passengers and crew at Terminal 3 had to be evacuated.
US Bombarded Where Trump Never Anticipated
Yesterday, Iran directed a drone to the US consulate in Dubai, with accuracy that had it land right on the consulate’s parking lot. The drone burst into flames on impact, sending thick dark smoke into the air all around the consulate.
That smoke could be seen from many kilometers away, but fortunately, nobody was hurt in the incident. America says that every one of its consulate staff has been accounted for.
The US asks its People to leave the Gulf.
The struck US offices cannot continue to operate, and not just because of the physical destruction. There is anxiety all over the Gulf region because nobody can tell where Iran is going to strike next.
Trump himself has expressed surprise that Iran has gone for US facilities in the peaceful Gulf countries, and cannot imagine the US suffering civilian casualties next. In fact, the number of countries that the US now considers unsafe in relation to this war is around 14.
Iran Extends its Missile and Drone Attacks Beyond US Assets
As it were, Iran has gone beyond the assets of its nemesis, America, and is attacking the precious assets of the countries friendly to the US. Dubai’s Palm Hotel and Resort, commonly referred to as Fairmont the Palm, is a case in point. Iran hit the facility with ballistic missiles over the weekend, and four people were immediately reported injured.
News from the UAE says that Iran has targeted its facilities using more than 137 ballistic missiles and over 200 drones. The count is based on the actual number of missiles and drones that the UAE has intercepted.
The US was too Hasty.
The US President was too hasty in initiating this war. He wanted to utilize what he considered Iran’s period of vulnerability, after its masses had gone to the streets complaining about the high cost of living. He had hoped Iranians would revolt against the regime of President Masoud Pezeshkian, but they have not.
With persistent motivation and prodding from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump failed to consider all war scenarios. With minimal long-range ballistic missiles, Iran is fighting for survival with what its armory has: short-range missiles.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard now appears to be hitting the Gulf region indiscriminately, as long as the targeted assets are valuable to the US or its friendly countries.
To note, there is only the Persian Gulf between Iran and the Gulf states, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and others.
Trump’s haste only allowed him to take precautions against the obvious potential targets, especially those in Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon. So, the US made arrangements earlier in February to evacuate its citizens in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, Lebanon’s capital, Beirut, and parts of Syria.