The Palestinian group Hamas on Saturday publicly urged its principal backer, Iran, to stop strikes that have struck Gulf states in recent weeks, even as it reaffirmed Tehran’s right to respond to attacks by the United States and Israel. The appeal — framed as a call for regional cooperation to preserve “bonds of brotherhood” — came after several Iranian retaliatory drone and missile launches that have, officials say, aimed at American installations but have also hit civilian infrastructure. The strikes have been felt across the Gulf, including a drone hit near the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, and have resulted in at least 18 deaths. Hamas said it is following the wider regional war with deep concern and urged all parties and international organisations to work to halt the fighting immediately.
Key takeaways
- Hamas publicly asked Iran to stop targeting neighbouring countries, calling for cooperation to preserve regional ties.
- Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes over the past two weeks, saying they target “American installations,” though many have struck civilian infrastructure.
- At least 18 people have died across the Gulf: six in the UAE, six in Kuwait, and two each in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
- A drone strike struck near the port of Fujairah, a major UAE oil export terminal, raising energy-security concerns.
- Hamas affirmed Tehran’s right to defend itself against US and Israeli strikes while urging a cessation of attacks on neighbouring states.
- Hamas remains a major Iranian ally and a member of the so-called “axis of resistance,” while Qatar and Turkey also provide significant political and financial support to the group.
- The Hamas-run health ministry reports 649 people killed in Gaza since the US-mediated ceasefire took effect in October 2024, with both sides accusing each other of violations.
Background
Iran and Hamas maintain a long-standing relationship in which Tehran supplies funds, weapons and political backing to the Palestinian group; Hamas is commonly described as part of Iran’s “axis of resistance,” a loose coalition opposing US and Israeli influence in the region. Since late 2023, Gaza has experienced a protracted conflict between Hamas and Israel that ended in a US-mediated ceasefire in October 2024. That ceasefire’s later phases remain under negotiation, and both Israel and Hamas have accused one another of near-daily breaches since the truce began.
Over the past two weeks, tensions have widened beyond Israel and Gaza after the US and Israel have conducted strikes against Iranian targets and Iran has retaliated with drone and missile launches. Iranian authorities have framed their response as directed at American facilities in the Gulf rather than at neighbouring governments, but the munitions have frequently impacted civilian installations and infrastructure. Gulf states — including the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain — have reported fatalities and damage, drawing international concern over the risk of a broader regional conflagration.
Main event
In its statement, Hamas urged its “brothers in Iran” to avoid targeting neighbouring countries and stressed that all regional states should work together to preserve fraternal ties. The appeal is notable because Iran is Hamas’s principal external patron, providing material and political support that has been critical to the group’s operations. Hamas simultaneously defended Tehran’s right to respond to US and Israeli strikes, reflecting the delicate balance it sought to strike between alliance loyalty and regional stability.
Iran has not publicly replied to Hamas’s appeal. Tehran’s state-aligned statements maintain that recent retaliatory strikes are focused on US military and logistical positions in the Gulf. Nonetheless, multiple launches have landed in or near civilian areas and critical infrastructure, including a reported drone strike near the Fujairah port, a key oil export terminal in the UAE. Gulf governments say the strikes have caused fatalities and damage across several countries over a roughly two-week period.
Authorities in the region report a toll of at least 18 deaths linked to the recent cross-border incidents: six in the United Arab Emirates, six in Kuwait, and two each in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Most of the victims have been described as security personnel or foreign workers. The incidents have disrupted shipping and raised alarm among trading partners and energy markets about the vulnerability of Gulf maritime infrastructure.
Analysis & implications
The public appeal from Hamas underscores growing regional unease: even allied non-state actors are urging restraint as strikes spill beyond intended military targets. Hamas’s message aims to reduce blowback against neighbouring states that host crucial economic and political links for the broader Palestinian cause, including mediation channels facilitated by Qatar and Turkey. It also reflects concern that continued cross-border incidents could undermine political support and logistical networks that groups like Hamas rely upon.
Strategically, attacks on Gulf infrastructure — ports, shipping lanes and energy facilities — amplify the risk of economic fallout. The Gulf supplies a sizeable share of global oil exports, and incidents near terminals such as Fujairah can prompt higher insurance premiums, rerouted shipping, and short-term spikes in energy prices. These secondary effects increase pressure on governments across Europe and Asia to press for de-escalation to protect both energy security and trade flows.
Diplomatically, the strikes complicate relations between Iran and its Gulf neighbours. While Tehran insists it aims at US assets, the pattern of impacts on civilian sites has aggravated capitals like Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City, which have had to address domestic security and public anxiety. For international mediators — notably Qatar and Turkey, both of which provide support to Hamas while hosting diplomatic ties with Iran and other regional players — the widening fallout makes negotiations over Gaza’s ceasefire and prisoner exchanges more fraught.
For Israel and the United States, the cross-border strikes create additional operational and political dilemmas. Both have interests in deterring Iranian escalation but must also weigh the risks of military responses that could further destabilise Gulf states and global energy markets. The unfolding dynamics therefore risk locking regional actors into tit-for-tat cycles that are costly and unpredictable.
Comparison & data
| Country | Reported deaths | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | 6 | Includes strike near Fujairah port |
| Kuwait | 6 | Security personnel and foreign workers affected |
| Oman | 2 | Reported incidents linked to strikes |
| Saudi Arabia | 2 | Incidents near border or infrastructure |
| Bahrain | 2 | Reported related fatalities |
These figures — reported by Gulf authorities and regional health agencies — total at least 18 deaths tied to cross-border strikes over roughly two weeks. By comparison, previous rounds of Iran-linked cross-border activity have sometimes produced limited, single-country incidents; the current multi-country pattern marks a concerning escalation in both geographic scope and civilian impact. The Gaza health figure reported by the Hamas-run ministry—649 deaths since the October 2024 ceasefire—offers additional context for the tensions that continue to drive retaliatory messaging and operations.
Reactions & quotes
Regional and international actors have responded with alarm and calls for restraint. Below are representative statements and short context for each.
“We ask our brothers in Iran to avoid targeting neighbouring countries and to preserve the bonds of brotherhood.”
Hamas statement
This line encapsulates Hamas’s dual stance: backing Iran’s right to self-defence while urging Tehran to prevent hits on neighbouring states that could widen the conflict.
“Our strikes have been directed at American installations in the Gulf,”
Iranian authorities (state media)
Iran’s public messaging emphasizes that its operations target US facilities, but the pattern of impacts on civilian infrastructure has led to international scrutiny and demands for clarification.
“Attacks on ports and shipping lanes threaten global energy supplies and raise the stakes for regional stability.”
Regional security analyst
Analysts warn that sustained pressure on Gulf infrastructure could prompt broader economic and diplomatic consequences, increasing incentives for third-party mediation to prevent further escalation.
Unconfirmed
- The specific chain of command for some retaliatory strikes remains unclear and has not been independently verified.
- Attribution of every impact to Iranian-launched munitions is not confirmed in all reported incidents; investigations by local authorities are ongoing.
- Precise civilian casualty counts and damage assessments may change as officials update reports and release forensic findings.
Bottom line
Hamas’s rare public appeal for Iran to stop strikes on neighbouring Gulf states highlights how rapidly a localized conflict can ripple across the region, drawing in allies and host states with economic and political stakes. The appeal reflects both humanitarian concern over civilian harm and pragmatic anxiety about the damage to relationships and mediation channels that groups like Hamas rely on.
In the coming days, key indicators to watch include any official Iranian response, Gulf governments’ diplomatic moves, shipping and energy-market reactions, and updates to casualty and damage tallies. The involvement of international mediators and whether the US or other powers adjust posture in the Gulf will be critical in determining whether the situation de-escalates or risks becoming a more sustained regional confrontation.
Sources
- BBC News — international news outlet reporting on Hamas statement and regional incidents