Middle East Eye is reporting that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are deepening their support for the US–Israeli war on Iran, expanding military cooperation and granting Washington broader operational access across the region
According to a report in The Cradle Media, Riyadh has opened King Fahd Air Base in Taif to US forces, a strategically safer location from Iranian drone strikes and close to Jeddah, now a critical logistics hub following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
US officials are quoted in the report as saying that thousands of American troops are being repositioned, pointing to preparations for a prolonged war increasingly reliant on Gulf infrastructure. A western official told MEE that “the attitude in Riyadh has shifted towards supporting the US war as a way to punish Iran for strikes,” marking a move from earlier caution to more active backing, according to The Cradle report.
The UAE has similarly signaled readiness for a long war, telling US officials it is prepared for a war that could last up to nine months, reinforcing its alignment with Washington’s trajectory. Despite this, both states are absorbing the consequences of escalation.
The UAE has intercepted hundreds of missiles and drones, while energy infrastructure across the Gulf has come under repeated attack. The war has also exposed cracks in US security guarantees, with Washington struggling to replenish interceptor stockpiles and protect its regional allies, raising concerns about sustainability if the conflict drags on.
Analysts warn that any move toward direct offensive participation could “open a can of worms,” triggering broader retaliation without meaningfully shifting the military balance.
As the war enters a more dangerous phase, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are increasingly entangled as active enablers of a widening conflict they may no longer be able to contain, according to The Cradle.