As Iran launches waves of missile and drone attacks on the United States installations and military bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, these Gulf states have found themselves absorbing the spillover of a war they didn’t initiate. The development reiterates questions about the cost-based analysis of hosting military bases in one’s neighbourhood, NGOZI EGENUKA reports.

Since the escalation of the conflict between Iran and the United States-Israel, countries where American military bases are located have borne the brunt of the war. They have had to shield off bombs targeted at their country because of the base, or in some cases, experience the destruction that comes when the bombs hit targets.

On February 28, amid negotiations between the United States and Iran over the latter’s nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes, America, in partnership with Israel, waged war on Iran. In retaliation, Iran had struck northern Israel and at United States military bases in the Middle East, with missiles and drones, targeting Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar’s capital Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
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Daily, the Gulf is being hit by Iranians, keeping them in a state of vigilance to ensure there is no maximum damage to their countries. Unwilling to join the war by going full-scale against Iran, the Gulf states chose to bear these attacks with stoic resignation.

Despite an apology by the Iranian president to the Gulf States, Tehran has continued to carry out more attacks, with civilian targets, including airports, embassies and vital infrastructure.

As of March 14, 2026, UAE air defences have engaged roughly 294 ballistic missiles and 15 cruise missiles launched from Iran since the conflict began. The vast majority were intercepted, though at least 18 fell on the sea, while some fell on UAE territory, causing damage and casualties. In addition, over 1,600 drones have been downed by UAE defence systems.

Since the conflict began, Iran has fired over 1,800 missiles and drones at the UAE, with a significant number targeting Dubai. Emirate Air defences intercepted the majority of the warheads. Despite a 90 per cent interception rate, some drones and missiles breached defence systems.

Attacks damaged buildings, including the Dubai luxury hotel, Fairmont The Palm and the Burj Al Arab hotel. These attacks also led to flight cancellations. Reports indicated that at least six people were killed and 141 were injured in the attacks.
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“The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it is on high alert and readiness to deal with any threats and to firmly counter all that targets the destabilisation of the state’s security, ensuring the preservation of its sovereignty, security, and stability, and protecting its interests and national capabilities,” the UAE Ministry of Defence said.

In Saudi Arabia, Iran has launched barrages of midnight drones and missiles. The Saudi Ministry of Defence reported intercepting dozens of drones. At least six ballistic missiles and at least 34 drones in recent attacks were intercepted. Attacks have targeted the Riyadh region and the Eastern Province.
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As of mid-March 2026, Iran has launched multiple waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Qatar, with the majority intercepted by air defences. Major attacks reported on March nine included 17 missiles and six drones, and another on March 11 involved nine missiles and several drones.

Almost all were intercepted. Iran also struck the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export facility in Qatar after threatening to hit key sites across the Gulf. Officials in Qatar said the missile strike on March 18 at the Ras Laffan gas facility caused “extensive damage”. QatarEnergy, the state-owned oil and gas company, said the site had been subjected to a missile strike. Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the resulting fire.

Similarly, Iran has targeted Oman with several drones. Two of them were shot down, and one crashed near Salalah Port in early March. Limited data suggests Oman is dealing with smaller, ongoing drone infiltration, with, at minimum, a handful of reported incidents and successful interceptions by local air defences.

Bahraini authorities also reported that their air defence system intercepted and destroyed approximately 125 missiles and 211 drones launched by Iran since the conflict began on February 28, 2026. The attacks have targeted various sites in the Gulf nation, including critical national assets.

Kuwait is also a victim. Iran has launched multiple attacks targeting Kuwait, with reports indicating at least 17 missiles and 22 drones were intercepted by Kuwaiti air defences. 120 ballistic missiles and 308 drones were earlier detected. Subsequent attacks targeted critical infrastructure like airbases and airports.

According to reports, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones, targeting at least 27 bases hosting American troops across the Middle East, which has in some cases caused significant damage to some infrastructure. Iran is hitting out in many directions to try to damage sectors crucial to the West, targeting oil, shipping and banking. ‎
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One begins to wonder what exactly they gain by hosting American bases, if their security is not guaranteed in times of crisis induced by the U.S. and its allies. Did they foresee this occurrence and choose to bear it, or are they learning their lessons through this ugly development?

Head, Security and Strategic Studies Division, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Joshua Bolarinwa, explained that military bases in other countries are mainly a function of a nation’s wealth, capacity and capability.

According to him, countries that are not wealthy or lack well-funded, strong military forces cannot afford to establish military bases outside their territories. Only nations with sufficient financial resources and military strength, he said, are able to build and maintain such bases abroad.

He stated that the United States has successfully established military bases worldwide, unlike Russia and China, adding that China has only sought to expand its influence by building ports and infrastructure in some countries.

Bolarinwa further explained that United States military bases are used to demonstrate power and strengthen partnerships with friendly nations. He said the presence of those bases serves to maintain cooperation and international relations. He added that these bases also help the country project its influence and presence in different regions of the world.

The don disclosed that the U.S currently has about 19 military bases in the Middle East, with the largest base located in Qatar, which has over 10,000 personnel. He also mentioned that the U.S has more than 168 military bases worldwide, including those located in countries that belong to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

He explained that since the end of World War II in 1945, the U.S has played the role of a global policeman, especially after the end of the Cold War in 1991. According to him, the world then moved into a unipolar system dominated mainly by the U.S.

Bolarinwa also pointed out that military bases provide many benefits to host countries.

He explained that these benefits include joint military patrols, training programmes, operational support, and the development of defence infrastructure. According to him, countries that host U.S. bases receive financial assistance, defence budgets, military equipment, and support for weapons development.

He further stated that Middle Eastern countries have improved their military capabilities through cooperation with the U.S. According to him, countries like Qatar have been able to defend themselves against missile attacks due to the training, operations and capacity-building programmes provided through America’s military presence.

He stated that the presence of United States military bases can also help prevent countries from becoming rogue states. He emphasised that these bases contribute to stronger defence systems, improved operational capabilities, and better security cooperation between the U.S and its partner countries.
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Director of Research and Studies Department, NIIA, Prof. Efem Ubi, said military bases provide strategic advantages, especially to the countries that own them. Although host countries may gain some benefits, the greater advantage, he said, usually goes to the nation that controls the base.
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Ubi believes that host countries gain ‎from these bases because they often form defence partnerships with the countries that own them. He argued that the presence of foreign military bases can help protect host nations from external threats and strengthen their security relationships with powerful allies.
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According to him, American military bases in the Middle East also act as a deterrent to potential conflicts. “Bases located in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Bahrain help discourage other countries from attacking these nations because of the presence of American military forces,” he said, adding that Iran is targeting U.S. bases because of their strategic military importance.

He explained that Iran is attacking such facilities to weaken the infrastructure that is being used to launch attacks against them. According to him, the destruction of critical systems, such as radar installations, could significantly degrade missile defence capabilities and make it harder to detect or intercept enemy missiles.

For Senior Research Fellow at the NIIA, Dr Philippa Osim Inyang, security cooperation, military training, intelligence sharing, and sometimes infrastructure development or investment linked to the bases are part of the benefits to the host country. “In some cases, the presence of a powerful ally’s military can also serve as a deterrent against external threats,” she said.

She, however, pointed out that the risk of hosting those bases is that they will become legitimate military targets during armed conflicts. “There is also a risk. When a country hosts the military base of a state involved in a conflict, that location can become a legitimate military target for the adversary. This is why countries hosting U.S bases in the Middle East are facing attacks.

“The agreements provide operational and jurisdictional protections for the foreign troops, but they do not guarantee immunity from being targeted in a war if the base is used for military operations. The host state essentially accepts a strategic trade-off between security cooperation and potential exposure to conflict risks,” she explained.