"The boom reverberated so loudly over Dubai marina that the windows of the surrounding skyscrapers and exclusive hotels gave a loud, disconcerting rattle. Moments earlier, all mobile phones in the vicinity had sounded off with a shrill alarm, the new normal for those living in the Gulf, warning of missile and drone strikes in the area."
"For 20 days, since the US and Israel began their bombing of Iran, the Gulf states have faced a relentless barrage of thousands of Iranian drones and missiles fired at their airports, hotels, ports, military bases, financial districts, datacentres and apartment blocks."
"Though it has represented an unfathomable attack on their sovereignty, security and economy in Dubai, shattering an economically crucial illusion of safety and glamour, Gulf countries have so far only responded defensively, spending billions on interceptors that have managed to shoot down about 90% of Iran's ballistics."
"The overarching priority among the Gulf Cooperation Council has been to avoid getting dragged into a war that is not theirs and they had tried furiously to stop."
Dubai's residents experienced alarming missile alerts as Iranian drones and missiles targeted Gulf states. Despite the threat, Gulf countries have focused on defensive measures, intercepting about 90% of attacks. The ongoing conflict has shattered the illusion of safety in the region, prompting fears of a potential escalation into war. The Gulf Cooperation Council aims to avoid involvement in the conflict, yet pressure mounts for a response to the existential threat posed by the attacks on their sovereignty and security.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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