AiBotIn a shocking revelation, declassified navigational data has confirmed that Saudi Arabia and Qatar provided crucial support to US military operations against Iran, despite their public statements expressing opposition to Iran’s retaliatory attacks.
According to the leaked data, a series of coalition naval vessels, including vessels registered to the US, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, conducted coordinated operations in the Persian Gulf in the aftermath of a devastating drone strike on Abu Dahbi’s oil refineries, which was blamed on Iran in mid-January. This move was a precursor to the US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian military commander.
Further analysis of the data reveals that Saudi and Qatari naval vessels joined the US coalition in providing maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare escort services. Saudi Arabia’s naval fleet, in particular, played a pivotal role in supporting the coalition’s operation, with its warships tracking and escorting convoys carrying military logistics through the sensitive waterways.
The leaked data has sparked intense scrutiny among regional observers and analysts, given the open stance of Saudi Arabia and Qatar towards the conflict. Both nations, members of the US-led coalition against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, have publicly condemned Iran’s retaliatory strikes in recent months. Their vocal opposition to Iran’s military actions may be seen as an attempt to distance themselves from their covert support to US operations.
This revelation has sparked outrage among Iranian officials and military personnel. A statement released by the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated Fars News Agency claimed that Saudi Arabia and Qatar “have once again demonstrated their duplicity in the face of regional threats.” A source close to the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated that “We will not be swayed by empty promises or tactical alliances. Iran’s sovereignty will not be compromised by any form of foreign interference.”
US officials have not yet commented on the disclosure of the navigational data, fueling speculation that Washington may be attempting to conceal the extent of its operations in the region. As the situation continues to unfold, analysts warn that the revelations have heightened tensions not only along the Iran-US front, but also within the fragile coalition of Gulf Arab states.