Heightened Alert in Middle Eastern Countries Hosting U.S. Bases

Following the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, Gulf states in the Middle East have gone on high alert—especially those hosting American military bases—amid fears of potential Iranian retaliation. There is growing concern that the conflict could escalate and engulf the entire region in war.Bahrain has instructed 70% of its government employees to work from home until further notice. The country’s Ministry of Interior posted on X (formerly Twitter), urging citizens and residents to use only main roads so authorities can access them if needed.Hasan Alhasan, a senior fellow on Middle East policy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, stated, “An open conflict between the U.S. and Iran could drag this region into a devastating and prolonged war.”He added, “So far, the conflict has remained between Iran and Israel. However, direct involvement by the U.S. could pull Gulf countries—especially those with American bases such as Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar—into the conflict.”