Gulf countries warn of rising threat from Iran-backed militias and proxies

Fears grow that Tehran may start activating sleeper cells across Middle East as part of war with US and Israel

• Middle East crisis - live updates

Gulf countries have raised concerns over the prospect of attacks by Iran-backed militias and proxy armed groups in the region, which they fear could destabilise their regimes and escalate the war in the Middle East.

In a joint statement this week, Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Jordan condemned Iranian attacks on their soil, both as strikes carried out directly from Iran and through their proxies and armed factions they support in the region".