DUBAI — Iran launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait after a new wave of American strikes on Iranian targets, marking the most serious escalation between Tehran and Washington since a ceasefire agreement reached weeks earlier began to unravel.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted U.S. military facilities in the Gulf in response to American attacks on Iranian military infrastructure along the country’s southern coastline. Iranian state media described the operation as a retaliatory action against what Tehran called U.S. aggression and violations of the ceasefire.
The U.S. military said the strikes on Iran were conducted after attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. U.S. Central Command said American forces had struck dozens of Iranian military targets, including missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance assets and naval capabilities, in an effort to reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten maritime traffic.
Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait as authorities activated emergency procedures. Kuwaiti military officials said air defenses were responding to what they described as hostile missile and drone threats. Bahrain’s government also urged residents to seek shelter during the attacks.
Iranian officials said the attacks were aimed at U.S. military infrastructure and warned that further American action would prompt additional responses. The IRGC said the operation included missile and drone strikes against facilities associated with the U.S. military presence in the Gulf. Those claims could not be independently verified.
Washington condemned the attacks and accused Iran of further destabilizing the region. U.S. officials said American forces remained prepared to defend personnel and interests across the Middle East.
The latest exchange followed several days of rising tensions linked to security incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The United States blamed Iran for attacks on commercial shipping and launched successive rounds of airstrikes, while Tehran denied wrongdoing and accused Washington of escalating the conflict.
The renewed hostilities have disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping activity has slowed sharply amid heightened security concerns and increased insurance costs. Industry officials warned that further escalation could threaten energy supplies and commercial trade through the strategic waterway.
As of Friday, neither side had announced plans to resume military operations beyond those already reported, but officials in both countries signaled they remained prepared for further action if attacks continued.
