DW News

Reports suggest Gulf states carried out covert attacks on Iran | DW News

May 13, 2026 10 min
middle eastgeopoliticsiransaudi arabiauae
Watch on YouTube Follow DW News on Rundown — free

Summary

AI summaries can be incomplete or wrong. Verify anything important against the original video.

This video examines recent reports of covert military actions by Saudi Arabia and the UAE against Iranian interests. It features an expert analysis on how these events indicate an escalation in regional tensions and a push by Gulf states for greater strategic autonomy.

In this DW News segment, host Aaron Tilton discusses reports that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have conducted covert strikes inside Iran, marking a significant escalation in Middle East conflicts. Giorgio Cafiero, CEO of Gulf State Analytics, joins the show to provide context on why these Gulf nations might be targeting Iran directly. The discussion highlights the shift in dynamics since the Iran-US-Israel conflict in late February and explores how the involved Gulf states are asserting their own regional interests independent of external pressures. Cafiero explains that while these states are seeking greater autonomy, they remain wary of unpredictable international policies and are careful to balance military action with diplomatic de-escalation efforts. The conversation concludes with an analysis of how this developing situation affects the broader regional security and the future of alliances within the GCC.

Claims & arguments

Locked

Key Points

Locked

Worth watching if: You are interested in Middle Eastern geopolitics and want to understand how shifting regional alliances and recent covert military actions are changing the security landscape in the Gulf.

Sign in to unlock the full extract

Every claim, key point, and timestamp for this DW News video — plus a daily email of every channel you follow.

Sign in with Google

No credit card. Free tier forever.

Watch on YouTube