Arab states hosting American troops reportedly fear retaliation if Israel uses their airspace to attack Tehran
Tehran has warned several US allies in the Middle East, including Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, not to assist Israel in any potential attack on Iran, according to unnamed Arab officials cited by the Wall Street Journal.
The warning, reportedly issued through “secret diplomatic channels,” was a response to Israeli threats of a severe reprisal after Iran fired about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel earlier this month.
Israeli officials have been advocating for devastating retaliatory strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and oil infrastructure, while the US is trying to keep the response limited and avoid a broader war that could spill across the region.
The escalating conflict between Israel and Iran has raised concerns among energy-rich Persian Gulf states about the safety of their own oil facilities. US military installations and forces in the region could also be at risk due to potential miscalculations or escalations, which could lead to unintended consequences, according to the WSJ.
Officials from multiple countries that host US troops told the WSJ that their states have made the administration of President Joe Biden aware they do not want their military infrastructure or airspace used for any offensive operations against Iran. In a separate report on Thursday, Reuters cited three sources as stating that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE all told Washington they will not allow Israeli jets to use their airspace for an attack.
US defense officials acknowledged that some regional partners have expressed their concerns to the Pentagon, but these requests “remain informal,” according to the WSJ.
Iran is fully prepared to defend itself and retaliate against any potential attack by Israel, a source in Tehran familiar with the matter told RT on Thursday, adding that the response would be “proportionate” and based on domestic and international norms.
Should Israel target Iran’s oil infrastructure, Tehran will respond by striking oil refineries in that country, the source explained. Attacks on other infrastructure, such as power plants or nuclear facilities, will likewise prompt retaliatory strikes on corresponding installations in Israel.
Iran claims to have targeted only military facilities, with no Israeli civilian casualties reported as a result of its massive ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1. The only reported casualty was a Palestinian man who was allegedly crushed by missile debris.
Tehran warned West Jerusalem against taking any disproportionate retaliatory steps. However, should a potential Israeli attack harm civilians, Tehran will be prompted to revise its nuclear doctrine, the source told RT, without elaborating.
