Saudi Arabia

Report: Saudi Arabia Launched Covert Strikes on Iran

Did Iran's strikes expose US Gulf bases as a liability or did Gulf states' retaliation prove they can hold Iran accountable?

Published 1 day ago

Report: Saudi Arabia Launched Covert Strikes on Iran

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Above: An armed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) military personnel stands guard amid the ruins of buildings in Tehran, Iran, on April 20, 2026. Image credit: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Iran narrative

Iran's strikes on U.S. bases across the Gulf were retaliation against a war launched in part from Gulf territory. If U.S. bombers used bases in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to strike Iran, Tehran was never going to treat those states as neutral bystanders. Gulf governments are now paying the price for aligning closely with Washington — absorbing significant military, economic and infrastructure risks for a confrontation they did not fully control.

Tehran Times Global Times Quincy Institute for Responsible Statescraft FDD

Anti-Iran narrative

Saudi Arabia didn't just absorb Iran's attacks — it hit back, launching covert retaliatory strikes on Iranian soil for the first time ever. The UAE also reportedly responded in kind, even coordinating at least one strike with Israel. Together, the Gulf states made clear that Iran's missile and drone campaigns would carry real consequences, while back-channel diplomacy helped push de-escalation before the broader ceasefire took hold.

Newsweek Jewish News Syndicate (JNS)The Times of Israel