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History provides a necessary context for these moments of heightened tension. The Persian Gulf has frequently experienced periods of alert, where temporary airspace restrictions or the interception of reconnaissance drones have occurred. Defensive systems, such as the Patriot and THAAD missile batteries, are permanently deployed throughout several Gulf nations specifically to mitigate these threats. However, during periods of extreme political friction, initial reports of “explosions” or “strikes” are often misinterpreted or amplified. What might be a routine military exercise, a technical malfunction, or a localized interception can be transformed by the “fog of news” into a definitive declaration of war.
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