Smoke was seen rising in parts of Doha, while Saudi Arabia reported missile impacts in Riyadh and the kingdom’s eastern region. Reluctant participantsAl Jazeera notes that Gulf states had worked actively to prevent such a confrontation. For years, Gulf states focused on threats from non-state actors such as Yemen’s Houthi movement or Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer at King’s College London, told Al Jazeera that the region is witnessing a resurgence of conventional interstate conflict. As Al Jazeera’s analysis concludes, the Gulf’s glittering skyline -- long a symbol of insulation from regional chaos -- is no longer shielded.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 02, 2026 16:47 UTC