Iran claims missile, drone strikes on 8 US military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain; US retaliates

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday, June 28, 2026, that it had launched missile and drone attacks against eight U.S. military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The IRGC asserted that these strikes were a direct response to U.S. military operations targeting Iranian positions just hours earlier.

According to a statement cited by Tasnim News Agency, the IRGC's naval and air units carried out the operation between 02:00 and 03:00 local time, targeting what they described as U.S. military objectives in the region. The claimed targets included major U.S. military infrastructures such as Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

These developments followed reports of explosions in southern Iran, including in Sirik and Qeshm Island, with Iranian media indicating that projectiles hit a telecommunications tower. Simultaneously, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed it had conducted additional strikes against multiple targets within Iran. CENTCOM stated its operations were aimed at military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, and facilities related to drone operations, in response to Iran's actions against commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, five Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and Qatar, issued separate statements condemning Iran's attacks on Bahrain. They deemed the actions a violation of Bahrain's sovereignty and international law. Bahrain's Foreign Ministry reported that Iran had targeted its territory with drones, calling it a "real threat to the safety of citizens and residents." The UAE condemned the attack as a blatant violation of sovereignty and a direct threat to regional security, expressing full solidarity with Bahrain. Saudi Arabia characterized the strikes as a breach of international law and the UN Charter, while Kuwait described them as a clear violation of its neighbor's sovereignty that endangers its people and regional de-escalation efforts.