Though many of Iran’s missiles and drones have been intercepted, the country’s attacks on its neighbors have significantly disrupted trade and travel in Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. This includes things like reduced oil exports and canceled flights.
On Tuesday, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) released a statement claiming responsibility for a major attack that destroyed U.S. radar systems and missile facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait. They described it as a prelude to further large-scale military operations.
One statement noted, “A significant militant effort kicked off recently as punishment for U.S. interference in our region and the deaths of innocent civilians.” They ominously suggested that future attacks would be more overwhelming.
However, contrary to Iran’s claims about targeting U.S. military assets with precision, officials from Jordan, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia indicated that Iranian strikes have predominantly targeted civilian sites in Kuwait, such as power plants and water facilities.
Kuwait’s Energy Ministry shared on Tuesday that the Iranian assaults on vital infrastructure forced residents to cut back on electricity just when temperatures were soaring. They characterized Iran’s approach as systematically aggressive towards civilians.
In Jordan, air raid sirens were activated on Monday night after Iran reportedly launched four missiles towards the country. Out of those, three were intercepted, while one fell in an unpopulated area.
This attack led to numerous flight cancellations in Jordan, while Kuwait and Bahrain temporarily shut down their airports, although they later reopened.
Recent vessel tracking data revealed a sharp drop in oil loadings from Saudi Arabia, as the country has redirected its oil flow from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea in a bid to evade Iranian assaults on its ships. Yet, Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen threatened to target a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea.
According to ship tracking service Kpler, there has been a 36% decline in crude oil loadings at Saudi ports over the last two weeks.
Houthi officials announced a “maritime ban” on Saudi shipping, mirroring past declarations made during conflicts in the region. This has resulted in a diversion of nearly half the usual maritime traffic toward the Suez Canal, complicating normal shipping routes.
Neil Quilliam from Chatham House highlighted that if the Houthis succeed in disrupting shipping in these strategic waterways, it could threaten Riyadh’s alternative oil export routes, putting a strain on the Gulf’s major shipping corridors.
While Saudi Arabia aims to distance itself from the conflict in Yemen, the intervention from 2015 to 2022 was largely ineffective. Quilliam notes that if attacks on Saudi ships escalate, Riyadh might feel compelled to respond militarily, either directly or through allied Yemeni forces.
