The Impact of the Twelve-Day War Between Israel and Iran on Aerial and Intelligence Security in Arab States

Abstract

Abstract

The Twelve-Day War between Israel and Iran in June 2025 represented a profound regional security turning point, demonstrating that Arab states—despite not being direct participants in the conflict—were among those most affected by its aerial and intelligence repercussions. The mutual strikes, involving ballistic missiles, armed drones, and stealth technologies, posed direct threats to Arab airspace, prompting countries such as Iraq, Jordan, and Qatar to close their skies, while others were forced to activate air defense systems to intercept projectiles that violated their airspace. The war also caused major disruptions to international civil aviation, generating economic losses and operational pressures on Arab airlines. From an intelligence perspective, the conflict highlighted the critical importance of early warning systems and real-time intelligence sharing, as satellite networks and intelligence alliances played a decisive role in protecting civilians and limiting damage. At the same time, the war exposed relative weaknesses in intra-Arab intelligence coordination. Overall, the conflict confirmed that Arab air and intelligence security has become intrinsically linked to neighboring regional conflicts, underscoring the urgent need to modernize air defense capabilities, enhance intelligence autonomy, and establish more effective regional coordination mechanisms to confront short-duration but high-intensity wars with far-reaching impacts.