RIYADH: Gulf states were on high alert Sunday following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, amid growing fears of regional escalation. The strikes, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, reportedly targeted Iran’s key nuclear sites using bunker-busting munitions in the early hours of the morning.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, raised its security posture following the attacks, according to informed sources cited by Reuters. Meanwhile, Bahrain urged residents to avoid main roads, and Kuwait activated emergency shelters within its government complexes.
The heightened alert follows previous Iranian warnings that U.S. military assets in the region could be targeted in the event of an attack. The Gulf hosts several major American bases, including the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, and facilities in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite the heightened tensions, nuclear regulators in Saudi Arabia and the UAE reported no radioactive contamination in the region following the strikes.
