As missiles and drones rule skies, Gulf countries prepare for Eid on Friday

DUBAI: (Mar 19) Amid intermittent missile and drone attacks, sirens, and a palpable sense of uncertainty, citizens and residents across the Gulf region are preparing for an unprecedented Eid on Friday, marking the end of the fasting month of Ramzan.

The crisis that was triggered by Israel and the United States attacking Iran on February 28, and a spate of assassinations, targeted bombings, and revenge strikes on Israel and across the Gulf, has hung over the holy month in this part of the world.

The cascading effect and the fog of war have left an indelible mark on the region and threaten to spread far beyond. With the Strait of Hormuz virtually brought to a standstill and threatening global energy security, the economic footprint of this war has started reaching far beyond, including India, which relies heavily on energy supplies from the oil wells of Arabia. With LNG supplies from Qatar significantly impacted, the pain is being felt in millions of homes that use cooking gas across South Asia.