Residents across the Gulf express cautious relief after a US-Iran truce, but recent attacks and deep distrust cast doubt on a lasting peace.
ABU DHABI: Residents across the Gulf breathed a sigh of cautious relief following news of a shaky ceasefire between the United States and Iran. The truce follows over a month of conflict that saw the region bear the brunt of Iranian retaliatory strikes.
During the war, Iran launched drone and missile attacks across the Gulf, killing dozens. The United Arab Emirates sustained more strikes than any other country in the region.
“For people like us living in the Gulf, we prayed every day for this war to end,” said Usman, a 38-year-old Uber driver in Dubai. He expressed hope that tourists would return and residents would feel safe again.
The fragile truce was immediately tested as Kuwait, the UAE, and Bahrain reported new Iranian attacks. These incidents shattered hopes for a swift return to normalcy.
In Dubai, strikes hit a luxury hotel on the iconic Palm Jumeirah island. The attacks rattled a region long considered a safe haven in a tumultuous Middle East.
Kiran Kannan, a 49-year-old Abu Dhabi resident, said she had taken peace for granted. “I hope the ceasefire will hold and we can sleep without having to worry about missile alerts,” she told AFP.
Iranian state television said Wednesday’s attacks on Kuwait and the UAE were retaliation for airstrikes on its Lavan island oil facilities. For many, the truce offers little guarantee of safety.
Ahmed Al-Khazai, a Bahraini in his forties, said the ceasefire doesn’t mean the next “two weeks will be without war”. The tiny Gulf states of Kuwait and Bahrain have sustained heavy blows relative to their size.
In Kuwait, resident Mohamed described living in fear of potential US strikes on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant, less than 300 kilometres away. “My manager had asked me to stockpile enough food and water for two days,” he said.
Deep distrust of the US commitment persists among some residents. “I don’t trust the American side to honour any deal… I’m waiting to see what happens,” said Reem, a mother of two in Kuwait.
She described living under “immense stress” with missile sounds and explosions traumatising her young daughter. Life has yet to fully normalise, with schools in affected areas continuing distance learning.
Saudi Arabia also faced attacks on Riyadh and vital oil infrastructure. The oasis city of Kharj, which houses a Saudi air base with US soldiers, saw regular strikes.
“There’s definitely a sense of calm mixed with anticipation,” said Ahmed, an Egyptian resident of Kharj. Justine, a French national in Riyadh, expressed widespread scepticism.
“I am relieved of course, but now the question is: will this ceasefire hold?” she asked. The region now watches anxiously to see if the fragile truce can evolve into a lasting peace.
