Gulf States Increase Nuclear, Chemical Attack Preparedness Amid Regional Tensions

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Bahrain, are intensifying emergency preparedness amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran, particularly concerning potential chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats. The GCC has partially activated its Kuwait-based Emergency Management Centre to coordinate sophisticated environmental and radiation monitoring systems and conduct joint response exercises. Public advisories and emergency shelters have been established in countries like Oman and Bahrain to prepare civilians for possible nuclear incidents, with authorities testing sirens and disseminating safety instructions. Experts and officials express concern over environmental contamination risks, possible Iranian retaliatory attacks on U.S. military facilities in the Gulf, and broader regional instability. Kuwait has held high-level meetings involving military and civilian sectors to assess national readiness, focusing on vital infrastructure and civil defense mechanisms, while urging Kuwaiti citizens in Iran to return amid escalating tensions. Diplomatic efforts are underway, with the GCC urging the U.S. and UN to push for an immediate ceasefire to prevent further escalation.