Gulf allies of the United States have privately expressed deep frustration that Washington provided no advance warning before launching strikes on Iran, leaving them exposed to retaliatory attacks they struggle to defend against, according to senior officials from multiple countries.
Officials from two Gulf nations told PBS NewsHour they received no meaningful consultation before the February 28 U.S.-Israeli strike on Iran—and insufficient time to prepare defenses before Iranian retaliation began raining missiles and drones on their territory.
The complaints reveal significant cracks in the coalition that Washington has sought to build for military operations against Tehran. To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions: this pattern of inadequate consultation mirrors tensions that emerged during previous U.S. military campaigns in the region, where allies felt used rather than genuinely partnered.
"Frustrated and Even Angry"
One senior Gulf official stated that countries in the region were "frustrated and even angry that the U.S. military has not defended them enough," noting that defensive efforts appeared focused primarily on protecting Israel and American troops while leaving Gulf nations to fend for themselves.
The official complaint centered on three issues: ignored warnings, insufficient defensive support, and rapidly depleting interceptor stockpiles. Gulf officials said they had warned Washington that military action would have "devastating consequences for the entire region," but these concerns were disregarded in the rush to launch strikes.

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