Iran’s Attacks on the Gulf Are Leaving Scars That Won’t Fade The Gulf region, once a place of relative stability, now finds itself grappling with the echoes of a conflict that has rekindled fears reminiscent of the 2003 Iraq War. For Sinem Cengiz, a researcher based in Doha and born in Kuwait, the parallels between past and present are stark. Growing up during the 2003 invasion, she recalls the chaos of missile strikes, the scent of smoke in the air, and the unspoken dread that accompanied every moment. Two decades later, the same anxieties have resurfaced, this time triggered by Iranian attacks on Gulf states. The memories of 2003 are etched deeply in the collective consciousness of the Gulf. On March 17, 2003, Kuwaiti schools abruptly closed as the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq loomed. Students were told to stay home, and emergency drills for missile attacks became a grim reality. Teachers trained families on how to respond to sirens, how to seal windows, and how to prepare for the worst. The fear was not just of physical harm but of the unknown—chemical or biological weapons that could turn the skies into a battlefield. The current crisis, however, is unfolding in a different context. On February 28, 2026, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states faced a new wave of attacks. Iranian missiles and drones targeted not only military bases but also civilian infrastructure, including airports, hotels, and oil facilities. The United Arab Emirates bore the brunt of the strikes, followed by Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Casualties emerged, and the region’s once-unified front against external threats now faces internal fractures. For Cengiz, the repetition of these events is both unsettling and inevitable.#iran #united_arab_emirates #kuwait #gulf_cooperation_council #sinem_cengiz
