Mira Al Hussein

“For now, the absence of citizen casualties has softened the psychological impact of the conflict, exposing the racial hierarchies that have long plagued Gulf societies. But it is possible the Gulf governments are managing disclosure carefully, wary of provoking panic.”

How people in the Gulf are reacting to the Iran war Missiles and drones have rained down on cities across the Gulf since the start of the conflict in the Middle East.

I wrote this about the different conversations happening in the Gulf about the ongoing war.

بين طهران وواشنطن: أين موقع دول الخليج؟ | د.بدر السيف | بودكاست بدون ورق YouTube video by بودكاست بدون ورق

For Arabic speakers, this is the podcast episode:

“Iran’s attack against Gulf States would fulfil an Israeli wish: to sow discord between us and the Iranian neighbour, thus pressuring Gulf States to join the US-Israeli alliance against Iran. Because only by expanding this bloc will they be able to change the regime.” - Kuwait’s Bader Al-Saif

Very dystopian timing. I’ve been working on this since November.

Thanks @thedialmag.bsky.social

Nasrin Parvaz is an author, activist and ex-detainee of Evin Prison, Iran's most infamous detention facility - where countless dissenters have been jailed. Having endured torture there and now living in exile since being released, she pens an exclusive oped: www.newarab.com/opinion/i-wa...

And *that*, regardless of legality (I'm pretty sure it's illegal, as is the US attack on Iran), is why Iran has attacked what it has

UK police have arrested four people on suspicion of assisting the Iranian intelligence services in relation to suspected surveillance of the Jewish community in London. ft.trib.al/nYTZ8Hk

Qatar warns war will force Gulf to stop energy exports within weeks Gas producer says it will take ‘weeks to months’ to restore deliveries after Iranian drone strike

Qatar warns war will force Gulf to stop energy exports within weeks ft.trib.al/JQxKy5e

There is no way the UAE will implicitly admit to violating sanctions against the IRGC by freezing assets.

I do not believe this will happen. This will not sit well with Dubai, even if Abu Dhabi is mildly keen.

The UAE officially maintains that these assets belong to individuals, not the IRGC/state. A freeze of assets would contradict the official narrative.

At least 13 hospitals and health facilities hit during attacks on Iran, WHO says Global health body investigating reports that four medics are among the 1,230 people killed in Iran since start of war

In Gaza, Israel and Biden normalized war crimes beyond anything we have seen before.

And now, Israel and Trump are using that model against Iranian civilians.

At least 13 hospitals and health facilities hit during attacks on Iran, WHO says

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

“Iran has..shattered the illusions of Gulf citizens about their immunity from regional politics .. The human price of regional power politics was supposed to be paid by 🇸🇾ians, 🇸🇩ese, 🇱🇧ese, and 🇾🇪 is—not by them .. But 🇮🇷 has brought them firmly, and likely permanently, back into geographical reality.”

Widespread panic in #Beirut after Israel issues unprecedented evacuation order for southern suburbs. Traffic is choked, people rushing to leave & head north. Drones in the air. WhatsApp messages urging ppl to crack windows open to avoid shattering from expected blasts #lebanon

Iran war risks turning into a battle of endurance Tehran tactics seek to draw in Gulf states and others

Gideon discusses the US and Israeli war against Iran with @emile-hokayem.bsky.social of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

Eskandar Sadeghi-Boroujerdi | The dry and the wet burn together The war launched against Iran by the United States and Israel is a war of choice and of hubris. There is scarcely even...

"‘The dry and the wet burn together’ is a Persian expression invoked when a fire spreads without discrimination. Once the blaze begins, distinctions collapse: between the combustible and the damp, the guilty and the innocent, perpetrators and victims."

Abominable reporting from NYT on this in their “live updates” on Iran.

“still investigating whether it was a U.S. airstrike”

“most of whom were likely children”

Noncommittal, uninformative, and vile. There was already a funeral for the GIRLS MURDERED IN THIS STRIKE, and the NYT is just NYT-ing

Saudi analyst Ahmed al-Ibrahim tells Al Arabiya English that both Saudi Arabia and Qatar have arrested Mossad agents planning false flags in their countries.

This is the first we’re hearing from a source other than Tucker Carlson.

@msjamshidi.bsky.social

The Gulf Fears Whoever Wins This War The Arab governments of the Gulf are facing myriad calculations as they now find themselves a front line for a war that was forced upon them. Even as they hope for an end to the conflict in Iran, with...

“If 🇮🇷 succeeds in preserving its system, the Gulf will have to contend with a glowering 🇮🇷, which will have learned to strike at its neighbors as a way to pressure/deter 🇺🇸 policy..In the unlikely event that 🇺🇸/🇮🇱 force a transformative shift in 🇮🇷, the Gulf will have exchanged one hegemon for another.”

Lina 💔

Corporate Media Buries Story of US and Israel Killing 168 in Girls School Attack No front-page stories in NYT, WSJ, WaPo. No mention on NBC and CBS Sunday Shows. No stand alone segments on Evening News shows. A death count on par with the OKC bombing is relegated to the back page.

“Just another faceless three-digit number of Muslim children extinguished from existence and relegated to A11...” www.columnblog.com/p/corporate-...

From the Gulf to East Africa, the Iran War’s Effects on Shipping Go Beyond Oil Prices An impassable Hormuz will squeeze Gulf countries’ ability to weather a prolonged war — and could have knock-on effects in East Africa.

NEW: The Iran war poses threats to global shipping that go beyond the price of oil, from uncertain supply lines to Gulf states to insecurity along the East African coast, writes @kayliwewe.bsky.social in @newlinesmag.bsky.social newlinesmag.com/running-note...

Israeli map showing all of southern Lebanon in red with yellow arrows pointing to north of the Litani river

The IDF just ordered the *entirety of south Lebanon* to be forcibly displaced.

They are emptying the land of its population, creating a massive crisis, and will now proceed to further annihilate large parts of Lebanon.

The very nation state of Lebanon is being destroyed.

Israel Is Blowing Up Iran’s Police State to Clear the Way for a Revolt Airstrikes have targeted organizations responsible for suppressing protests and cracking down on separatists, though analysts are skeptical the strategy will work.

“Israeli officials.. are looking to do enough damage to Iran’s police state from the air that the people can take over on the ground.” Degrading state capacity increases likelihood of state failure, not democratic change -Israel fine with chaotic collapse, US/Gulf not.

www.wsj.com/world/middle...

Kuwait’s Bader Al-Saif says, taking a holistic approach towards Iran is necessary, and should be equally paired with a similar approach towards Israel and its destabilising behaviour.

When the dust settles - and we hope a ceasefire will materialise - there needs to be re-assessment of Gulf security frameworks.

This should have happened in 2019, following the Iranian attack on the oil facilities in Abqaiq, KSA.

Good chance Gulf States will ignore local voices on this matter.

I don’t know a single Khaleeji who will lament the destruction of these bases, which have proved incredibly useless to our countries’ security.

APNewsAlert: ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey says NATO defenses intercepted a ballistic missile launched from #Iran before it entered Turkish airspace.

Drones have been incessantly buzzing throughout the night and into morning.

Numerous attacks across the country. Reports of at least 10 dead in an attack on Baalbek.

Many are angry/questioning Hezbollah’s decision to attack Israel again. It’s clear Israel was waiting for this

An expat in Dubai has a startling revelation: the Stephen Collins cartoon Reality check …

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...