In a recent broadcast, prominent US political commentator Tucker Carlson leveled explosive allegations against Israel, claiming that Saudi and Qatari authorities had apprehended Mossad operatives for allegedly planning bombings within their borders. Carlson questioned the strategic rationale, asking his audience, “Why would the Israelis be committing bombings in Gulf countries, which are also being attacked by Iran? Aren’t they on the same side?” He concluded that Israel’s objective is to deliberately sow chaos among America’s Arab allies, including Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait.
These remarks are situated within a broader context of Carlson’s contentious history with the Israeli government. He recounted a February incident where he and his team were reportedly detained by Israeli security officials shortly after an interview with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee. During that interview, Huckabee asserted a ‘divine right’ for Jews to settle on Palestinian land and denied the existence of a distinct Palestinian national identity—a conversation that followed a public dispute between the two regarding Israel’s treatment of Christians. Carlson’s past criticisms of Israel, including accusations of murdering children during a visit to Gaza refugees in Qatar, previously earned him the ‘Antisemite of the Year’ designation from a pro-Israel advocacy group.
Carlson’s commentary emerges against a backdrop of severe regional escalation. The United States and Israel have launched a sustained joint military campaign against Iran, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour, Defense Council Secretary Ali Shamkhani, and hundreds of civilians—including approximately 150 girls in a school strike. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claims to have targeted over 500 US and Israeli sites using hundreds of drones and missiles.
The conflict’s economic repercussions are immediate and severe. An Iranian drone attack caused a limited fire at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, prompting Saudi Arabia to close its largest oil facility and Qatar to halt liquefied natural gas (LNG) production. Consequently, European gas prices surged by nearly 50%, and insurance providers have cancelled war-risk coverage for ships transiting the Persian Gulf. With European powers like France, Germany, and the UK pledging readiness to take defensive action to protect their interests, and President Trump warning of an impending ‘big wave,’ the situation continues to intensify.