Iran Strikes US Bases in 3 Nations After Airstrikes; Iraqi Militia Threatens to Join Conflict

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically as Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile attacks against U.S. military bases in three countries, following recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian soil. The Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced its "Saeqeh" (Lightning) operation, claiming significant successes.

According to Iranian state media, the IRGC asserted that its unmanned drones destroyed a logistics center at Mina Abdullah in Kuwait and damaged aircraft hangars at the Azraq base in Jordan. Furthermore, Iran claimed to have heavily damaged the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. These actions represent a direct response to U.S. military operations targeting coastal Iranian missile and drone sites.

However, official statements from Kuwait and Jordan, along with assessments from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), have cast doubt on Iran's claims. Kuwaiti and Jordanian defense ministries confirmed that their air defense systems intercepted Iranian drones, and debris caused no casualties. CENTCOM corroborated conducting airstrikes on Iranian missile and drone facilities but explicitly denied that any U.S. aircraft or control centers were destroyed, directly refuting Iran's assertions.

Adding to the volatile situation, Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, an official from the Iraqi militia group Kataib Hezbollah, warned that his organization would "immediately and certainly" join the fight if a full-scale war erupts. This threat underscores the potential for the conflict to broaden, drawing in regional militias. The escalating confrontation follows U.S. President Donald Trump's ultimatum that airstrikes on Iranian power plants and bridges would follow if Tehran refused negotiations.

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If war breaks out, we will immediately and certainly participate.