Speaking to Abdulla al-Junaid, a well-known Bahraini journalist, one gets the sense of the appreciation he feels for Israel, alongside his distaste for Iran and the attacks it has launched against the Gulf, including his hometown of Manama.

Al-Junaid describes the drone and missile attacks launched by Tehran as “Iran’s stupidest decision.” But he doesn’t think Israel is much smarter, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of launching the war in service of his expansionist vision, with no real benefit for the region.

“I believe this is definitely not the right war, not the right time,” he told The Times of Israel by phone recently.

The view reflects a broader mood across the Gulf, where a clear rejection of Iran exists alongside dissatisfaction with those fighting Iran — the United States and Israel.

Bahrain is one of several Gulf countries that sit on Iran’s doorstep and have come under heavy Iranian attack since the US and Israel began attacking the Islamic Republic on February 28. Also under assault are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman, among others.

As of March 13, according to the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya network, Iran had launched 850 missiles and 2,650 drones toward Gulf states. The strikes have killed at least a dozen civilians in Gulf countries, most of them migrant workers.

According to al-Junaid, despite the deaths and the frequent attacks, life in the small Gulf kingdom is continuing largely as normal.

“There was a moment of shock when the Iranians began attacking, but the shock passed, and we continue to live normally,” he said, noting that Bahrainis were relying on the country’s air defense capabilities.

He noted that one of the two people killed in Bahrain was a young woman who was at a cafe with friends when she was hit by debris following a drone strike on an office tower above her. The fact that she was out and about shows that the general public does not appear overly fearful of the strikes, he said.

For many Gulf countries, which trade on their image as islands of stability, there is an inherent interest in projecting the idea of business as usual even as war rages around them.

Most Gulf countries have tightened their already-robust media restrictions, including trying to censor pictures and videos of strikes or damage in an attempt to keep a lid on the extent of havoc caused by Iran’s attacks.

The countries are already at risk due to the oil shocks stemming from Iran’s move to block the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial export channel for Gulf energy, as well as concerns that strikes could damage oil facilities and slow production.

Al-Junaid insisted that Gulf states are capable of managing risks to oil production, noting that the price per barrel remained below $100, aside from when jittery traders caused it to spike.

“We understand our role in stabilizing the energy market,” he said.

Salem Alketbi, an Emirati political analyst, told The Times of Israel that while there is concern in the United Arab Emirates about the situation, it has not reached the level of panic.

“The government moved quickly to protect infrastructure, and daily life continues as usual,” he said.

The message that life is continuing normally........

© The Times of Israel