Tuesday briefing: How the conflict in Iran shattered the Gulf state image of peace and luxury

The Middle East is experiencing escalating conflict, with a joint US-Israeli aerial assault on Iran followed by the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian leaders. The US preemptive strike was reportedly triggered by concerns over potential Iranian attacks on US troops. This conflict has stranded over 100,000 Britons in the Gulf due to airspace closures and risky overland evacuation routes. In UK news, Scotland has legalized hydrolysis as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional burials. Meanwhile, UK programs supporting nature and climate protection in developing countries are facing budget cuts. In UK politics, Nigel Farage is facing accusations of election denial following a recent byelection.

On March 2, 2026, Iran's retaliatory strikes against US assets in the Gulf region entered their third day, escalating fears of a prolonged conflict. Explosions were reported in Dubai, Doha, and Kuwait, with Kuwaiti air defenses intercepting drones near residential areas. Iran stated the attacks were in response to ongoing US-Israeli strikes on Iran, targeting US military assets and impacting civilian areas across Gulf cities. Bahrain activated air raid alerts and closed a major bridge. Casualties have been reported in Kuwait, the UAE, and Qatar, while US-Israeli attacks have resulted in significant casualties in Iran and Israel. The US, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE jointly condemned Iran's attacks and affirmed their right to self-defense.

Multiple Gulf nations, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait, reported missile and drone attacks on Saturday. These attacks occurred despite an earlier apology from the Iranian president to Gulf countries, where he stated they would not be targeted unless strikes originated from their territory. Hours later, Iran declared its intent to continue strikes on sites within Gulf countries it considered to be at the disposal of its enemies. The UAE's president acknowledged the country was in "a period of war." Dubai authorities reported one death, a Pakistani national, resulting from debris from an aerial interception. Kuwait's national oil company announced a precautionary cut to production.

In a recent video address, Donald Trump vowed to avenge the deaths of three American soldiers following joint US-Israel strikes on Iran, accusing Iran of "waging war against civilization." He stated that there would "likely more" US troop deaths before the conflict with Iran ends. Trump's critics are pressuring the White House for a clearer plan regarding Iran, warning that a lack of strategy risks a prolonged conflict. The situation is developing, and analysts express concern about the potential for the US to be drawn into a long-lasting engagement. Separately, due to ongoing events, airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have cancelled hundreds of flights, with thousands of flights cancelled over the weekend.

Iranian missiles struck multiple locations across the Arab Gulf states, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, marking a significant escalation of regional conflict. The attacks damaged infrastructure, including airports and hotels in Dubai, demonstrating Iran's capability to strike US allies in the region. These strikes, according to analysts, aim to deter Gulf states from supporting potential US or Israeli actions against Iran. The attacks highlight the vulnerability of Gulf nations and underscore Iran's willingness to "internationalize the battlefield," bringing the conflict directly to its neighbors. This development is likely to strengthen Arab rulers' support for potential US-Israeli strikes.

Since the 9/11 attacks, the United States has engaged in three full-scale wars and bombed at least 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia, Libya, Syria, Venezuela, Nigeria and Iran. These military actions, initiated under the Bush administration's "war on terror" and continued under subsequent presidents, aimed to pursue US strategic interests. A Brown University study estimates that these US-led wars have directly caused approximately 940,000 deaths across various conflict zones. The financial cost of these conflicts is estimated at $5.8 trillion, encompassing Department of Defense spending, Homeland Security, increased DOD base budget, veterans' medical care, and interest payments. Future veterans' care is projected to add another $2.2 trillion, potentially bringing the total cost to $8 trillion.

Global air travel is experiencing major disruptions due to the US-Israel war on Iran, resulting in thousands of cancelled flights and stranded passengers worldwide. Major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai, have been closed for multiple days, causing significant aviation shock. As of Monday, over 1,200 flights were cancelled, adding to the nearly 6,000 cancellations from the weekend. Airlines like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have suspended numerous services, and Air India cancelled flights to Europe and North America. The airspace over several Middle Eastern countries remains largely empty, impacting flights from Bali to Frankfurt. The conflict's spread to Lebanon has further complicated the situation, with airspace closures and airport restrictions expected to cause continued delays and cancellations.

Airspace closures across the Middle East, triggered by attacks between America/Israel and Iran, caused widespread flight disruptions, stranding or diverting hundreds of thousands of travelers. Several countries, including Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, closed their airspace, leading to the suspension of operations at key international airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. Major airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad cancelled thousands of flights, impacting an estimated 90,000 passengers daily passing through these hubs. Over 3,400 flights were cancelled across seven major Middle Eastern airports on Sunday. Some airports and landmarks in the region sustained damage, resulting in injuries and at least one reported death. The closure of Iranian airspace was extended until Tuesday morning.

A war launched by the US and Israel on Iran has rapidly escalated, spreading across the Middle East. On Saturday, Iran struck the Fairmont hotel in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah area, causing a fire and injuring four people. The attack on the Dubai hotel is part of a wider conflict that has sparked anxiety and concern throughout the region, with reports of explosions in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. The initial US-Israeli attack on Iran appears to be the catalyst for the escalating regional conflict. The reasons for the initial attack were not specified in this report.

On February 28, 2026, Iran confirmed retaliatory attacks on US assets located in Gulf Arab states, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, following a joint US-Israeli attack on Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility, stating that all US and Israeli military targets in the Middle East were struck. Bahrain reported an attack targeting the US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters, while Kuwait experienced explosions near the US military's Central Command headquarters. Qatar's Defense Ministry stated it intercepted missiles before they reached Qatari territory. The UAE reported at least one death in Abu Dhabi after intercepting missiles launched from Iran.

Iran launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar in response to recent attacks by the US and Israel. The Iranian Foreign Ministry stated the action was in defense of the homeland. The UAE and Iraq closed their airspace, and shrapnel from an Iranian missile killed one person in the UAE. Israel issued a nationwide warning and activated its missile defense systems to intercept incoming projectiles. There were initially few reports of damage or injuries in Israel.

Following Israeli and US airstrikes on Iran, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (Dfat) has warned Australians of potential "reprisal attacks and further escalation" across the Middle East. Dfat updated its Smartraveller website, advising against travel to Iran and urging those in the country to leave if safe, citing the risk of military conflict and potential airspace closures impacting global flights. Australians remaining in Iran are advised to prepare to shelter in place with adequate supplies. The Australian embassy's operations in Iran are suspended. Prior to the attacks, Australia had already advised citizens in Israel and Lebanon to consider leaving and withdrew dependents of officials from Israel and Lebanon due to the deteriorating security situation.

In February 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a warning about Iran's ballistic missile capabilities. The warning comes ahead of a new round of indirect talks between the US and Iran. Rubio stated that Iran possesses a significant number of ballistic missiles. He believes these missiles pose a threat to the United States. The context of the warning is the upcoming negotiations between the two countries. The specific location of Rubio's statement was not provided in the article.