When Israel and the United States launched a joint attack against Iran on Saturday, Iran’s retaliation which currently continues has been directed toward U.S. military bases located within GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. The GCC nations maintain strong relations with the United States, particularly in the trade sector. Furthermore, these nations are hubs where people from various parts of the world invest and earn a living through direct employment.

Iran’s strategy in launching attacks on GCC nations appears to be based on the premise that such strikes will compel the leaders of these countries to pressure the United States to end the war. By attacking U.S.-built military bases within the GCC, Iran is also able to inflict direct losses upon the United States.
However, in addition to military bases, Iran has been carrying out counter-attacks against hotels housing U.S. security officials and other U.S.-owned establishments within the GCC. Essentially, this signifies that Iran’s primary targets are Israel and the United States.

Why Military Bases in the GCC?

The presence of oil in the Middle East is something the United States has always sought to keep within its grasp. It is a necessity for the very survival of the United States that there are no countries with anti-American policies in that region. However, following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the U.S. realized that the new Iranian regime would become an obstacle to its Middle Eastern interests. This realization prompted the United States to strengthen its friendship with GCC countries and move toward isolating Iran in the region.

Simultaneously, the GCC nations required the assistance of nations like the United States to find markets for their resources, including oil. Understanding that any rebel voice rising against them from the region could overturn the world order they had established, the United States began constructing military bases in GCC nations as early as the 1940s. Many of these were developed in the 90s and utilized by the U.S. during the Gulf War. Additionally, the U.S. continues to use these military bases to keep Iran, the sole threat in the region, under intimidation.

Which are those Military Bases?

1. Qatar, Al Udeid Air Base

This is the largest American military base in the Middle East. Built in 1996, it became the primary military center for the United States following the Afghan War in 2001. Al Udeid Air Base serves as the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Massive aircraft, including B-52 bombers, can land here. It is reported that more than 10,000 troops are stationed at this location.

2. Bahrain Naval Support Activity (NSA Bahrain)

The headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet is located here. Although a military presence has existed here since 1947, it became an official U.S. military base after Bahrain gained independence in 1971. NSA Bahrain is a vital naval base that assists the United States in intervening as far as the Strait of Hormuz.

3. Kuwait Camp Arifjan

This is a major center for the U.S. Army. While constructed in 1999, its importance grew following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It is said that a vast amount of military equipment and vehicles are stationed here. Camp Arifjan in Kuwait also serves as a critical hub for transporting food, weapons, and other essentials to American soldiers in Iraq and Syria. Estimates suggest there are over 13,500 troops stationed there.

4. United Arab Emirates, Al Dhafra Air Base

This airbase is situated near Abu Dhabi. U.S. forces have been present here since the Gulf War era in the 1990s. Reports indicate that surveillance aircraft and drones are deployed at this site.

5. Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Air Base

The American presence here began in the 1990s. Although the presence was reduced in 2003, the United States strengthened it again in 2019 due to fears regarding the Iranian threat. The U.S. has equipped this location with Patriot missile defense systems. Prince Sultan Air Base is a key site that assists the U.S. in missile defense.

The strategic map of the Middle East in early 2026 is defined by an unprecedented direct military conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. This escalation has shattered decades of "strategic hedging" by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, who now find themselves on the front lines of a regional war.