“I think it’s fair to say this is a third Gulf war, isn’t it?” Economist defense editor Shashank Joshi wrote on X. I think fair to say that this is a third Gulf war, isn't it? — Shashank Joshi (@shashj) March 2, 2026 Beyond the ongoing exchange between U.S. and Israeli forces striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military targets and IRGC retaliation strikes against U.S. and allied bases across the Gulf and into Europe, including Cyprus, an increasingly uncomfortable reality is beginning to emerge: civilian and commercial targets do not appear to be off limits. Developments we’ve been following today include drone strikes on Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura complex, the largest refinery in the country. Then, drone strikes on a commercial data center run by Amazon AWS in the United Arab Emirates (first-ever in modern warfare), as well as countless videos of IRGC missile and drone strikes on condo towers and other civilian soft targets. BREAKING: An Iranian missile has struck a luxury skyscraper in Bahrain reports suggest that this skyscraper is housing senior U.S. military command personnel. Bahrain officials have not yet released any statements. pic.twitter.com/CQIQ2Yo7CC — The British Patriot (@TheBritLad) March 2, 2026 Incredible Angle for Iranian Sahed drone striking a tower in Bahrain […]