U.S. Military Posture in Gulf

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and Oman mounted 72 hours of intensive diplomacy urging restraint to avert a U.S.–Iran military clash, delivering coordinated messages to Washington and warning Tehran that attacks on U.S. facilities would damage ties with Arab neighbors as U.S. embassies urged Americans to avoid bases; the U.S. also withdrew a small number of personnel from Al Udeid air base as a precaution and Iran briefly closed its airspace. At the same time Israel’s U.N. ambassador and President Trump signaled readiness for further strikes over Tehran’s crackdown on protesters—Israel saying it is at “high readiness” and Trump threatening “very strong action” but indicating a possible pause after reports the hangings were being canceled—while Iran warned of global retaliation if its leadership is targeted.