'No expert' predicted Gulf attacks, claims Trump

US President Donald Trump says the wave of attacks on Gulf countries has surprised Washington and security analysts.

Speaking at the White House earlier, Trump said officials did not expect regional states to come under direct attack as the conflict with Iran escalates.

“Nobody expected that. We were shocked. The greatest experts, nobody thought they were going to hit.”

He said several Gulf countries had already come under fire as the war spreads beyond its initial front lines.

“Kuwait is getting hit, Bahrain is getting, all these countries are getting hit. There was no expert that would say that was going to happen.”

Trump added that the United States would continue its military response despite the widening regional fallout.

“It’s not a question of like … should you have known, and if we did know, big deal. I mean, we have to do what we have to do,” added in reference to Gulf countries being attacked.