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UAE's Gargash calls for firm, united Gulf stance after Iran attacks Kuwait, Bahrain
He stressed that no Gulf country should be left to face such threats alone, underlining the interconnected nature of regional security
- PUBLISHED: Wed 3 Jun 2026, 1:24 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow the Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.]
A top UAE diplomat has called for a “firm, unified and cohesive” Gulf response following Iranian drone and missile strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain, amid a sharp escalation in regional hostilities between Iran and the US in the early hours of Wednesday.
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The remark by Anwar Gargash follows Iranian strikes on June 3 that hit a passenger terminal at Kuwait’s international airport, killing one Indian, injuring at least 63 people, and causing disruption to air traffic. Kuwaiti armed forces said they intercepted 13 hostile ballistic missiles, with projectiles neutralised over several residential areas and debris reported in multiple locations. Authorities also confirmed that 17 hostile drones were intercepted and destroyed.
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The incident has further heightened tensions across the Gulf region, prompting urgent diplomatic and security consultations. The UAE has also condemned the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, describing them as a flagrant violation of international law and a direct threat to regional security, stability, and the safety of civilian and critical infrastructure.
The escalation came as Iranian and US forces exchanged strikes in what marked one of the most serious tests yet of a fragile April 8 ceasefire, which has largely held despite intermittent violations since the war triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28.
Gargash, a presidential adviser, urged member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to respond collectively to what he described as repeated aggression against regional partners.
“In light of Iran's repeated aggression against the sisterly states of Kuwait and Bahrain, a firm, unified, and cohesive Gulf stance is imperative,” Gargash posted on social media.
He emphasised that no Gulf country should be left alone to confront such threats, underscoring the interlinked nature of regional security.
“No Gulf state should be left to face targeting alone, as the security of the Arab Gulf states is interconnected, their interests are shared, and their fate is one. This aggression does not target a specific state, but rather all of us,” he said.
Gargash had previously emphasised that the region is facing a crisis of trust that will extend for decades, and urged a rational review of alliances. The diplomat also pointed out that, during the ongoing crisis, while the GCC countries supported each other logistically, political and military cooperation remained weak. He described the GCC’s stance as historically weak, given the magnitude of the threat.
Speaking at a session during the Gulf Influencers Forum in Dubai in April, he said, “I was not surprised by the weakness of the Arab League, but what surprised me was the stance of the Gulf countries." He urged that the Gulf narrative must evolve, moving away from being “shy and complimentary” to becoming strictly “realistic.”
The UAE has reiterated the importance of a political solution and negotiations to resolve regional tensions and also dismissed Iran's attempt to control the Strait of Hormuz.
Gargash had stressed that the UAE affirms the importance of a political solution and a negotiated path, “which it continues to uphold in its various contacts”.
“We did not seek this war, and we worked sincerely to avoid it,” Gargash said in May. “Arab-Iranian relations in the Gulf cannot be built on confrontation and conflicts, in a region whose peoples are bound by deep-rooted geographical and historical ties.”
Ajanta Paul is a Senior Editor on the Digital team. A natural leader and newshound, she thrives in breaking news and high-pressure situations — and enjoys reporting on community issues that matter to UAE residents.