Kuwait city: Arrests, denials, and missing images characterize the Gulf states’ response to recent Iranian strikes, according to a video shared on Telegram on July 16, which documents an Iranian strike on Kuwait from the Iraqi border city of Umm Qasr. This location was confirmed by the FRANCE 24 Observers team.
According to France24.com, since the conflict began on February 28, Iran has been targeting US military sites in allied states across the Persian Gulf region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. These countries host US bases and have been implementing repressive policies against anyone documenting the impact of Tehran’s attacks. More than 1,000 people have been arrested across these US-allied states, as reported by Amnesty International.
Gulf countries have used the conflict as an excuse to further restrict freedom of expression. Mahmoud Shalaby, a regional researcher at Amnesty International, highlighted that Arab countries in the Gulf have issued bl
anket warnings prohibiting citizens and residents from filming or sharing images of the Iranian attacks. Over 300 people were arrested in Bahrain alone between March and May, with at least 34 sentenced to prison terms for sharing images on social media. Kuwait saw over 200 people receiving suspended sentences or prison terms, while the UAE announced the arrest of 375 individuals in March.
Another aspect of the crackdown is the revocation of citizenship in Kuwait and Bahrain. Bahrain announced it had stripped 69 people of their citizenship for allegedly expressing sympathy with Iranian attacks. Kuwait followed suit, revoking the citizenship of more than 1,000 individuals without providing reasons.
Shalaby emphasized that these measures violate international human rights standards. Gulf states’ blanket bans exceed the requirements and remain incompatible with international law. The crackdown on documenting the attacks undermines media and researchers’ ability to verify these events.
The US has restricted sat
ellite-imagery companies from providing updated images of these countries, forcing journalists and researchers to rely on lower-resolution European satellite services, Iranian satellite imagery, and images from Chinese companies. Available imagery often contradicts official claims that Iranian attacks were intercepted. For instance, evidence emerged from European Sentinel-2 satellite images showing a direct hit on Al Udeid, a US military base in Qatar.
The Gulf states are keen to conceal the attacks’ impact to maintain their image as safe havens. Shalaby noted that some residents have criticized the presence of US military bases, claiming they attract attacks. By downplaying the impact, governments aim to counter such arguments.
The Trump administration has also been accused of concealing the extent of missile and drone attacks on US bases in the Middle East, withholding information about the true number of US soldiers injured during the war.