Gulf anger toward Iraq is rising fast over attacks launched from its territory since the U.S. began its war on Iran, with tensions escalating further after Kuwait was struck on April 24, reviving urgent questions about Iraq’s relations with its Arab neighbors after years of cautious improvement.

The U.S.-Israeli War on Iran that erupted in late February 2026 was not simply a military campaign to degrade Iranian capabilities, but quickly became an unexpected internal turning point that reshaped the balance of power in Tehran.

As Pakistan presses ahead with an all-out diplomatic push to broker a lasting deal between the United States and Iran—one that could finally bring the war to a close—its sudden urgency to act as a go-between is raising pointed questions.

Gulf media coverage of the U.S.-Israeli War on Iran has revealed a distinctly one-sided approach, with reporting across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, closely mirroring official narratives and government positions.

Although the U.S. military has declared success in rescuing the F-15 crew downed by Iran, the operation came at a heavy cost, including lost aircraft, wounded troops, and a symbolic and political setback that could haunt Trump, recalling the political fallout faced by Jimmy Carter.