Gulf states targeted by Iran retaliation despite refusing U.S. base access

Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE — the same Gulf states that had refused to permit US forces to use their territory to attack Iran. The strikes targeted US installations including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US base outside the continental United States. Gulf states that had tried to stay neutral by denying base access became combatants by hosting US forces that were already present.