The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its Navy and Aerospace Force conducted coordinated missile and drone strikes on US-linked military targets in Bahrain and Kuwait. The operation, described by Iranian state media as a response to earlier US attacks on Iranian coastal stations, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.
According to reports from Tasnim News Agency and other Iranian outlets, the strikes targeted key infrastructure:
In Bahrain: Weapons and spare-parts warehouses for enemy vessels and aircraft were reportedly destroyed at Sheikh Isa Air Base. Additional claims include hits on facilities at Juffair and the US Fifth Fleet area.
In Kuwait: A platform hosting MQ-9 drones was hit at Ali Al-Salem Air Base, with several drones said to be destroyed or damaged. Other reported targets included sites at Camp Arifjan.
The IRGC Claimed the attacks as the “first phase of a punitive response” to US aggression, warning that further retaliation would follow if US operations continued. Iranian sources also linked the strikes to broader tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz and regional oil exports.
IRGC Statement
“In the initial response to this aggression, the naval and aerospace forces of the IRGC, through joint missile and drone operations, destroyed [key targets including] weapons and spare-parts warehouses… at Sheikh Isa Air Base [in Bahrain] and a platform hosting MQ-9 drones… at Ali Al-Salem Air Base [in Kuwait], with several drones destroyed or damaged.
The IRGC warns that retaliation will continue as long as US aggression continues, with repeated attacks to be met by surprising responses. US aggression will only delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and prevent oil and gas exports from the region.”
CENTCOM Statement
US Central Command (CENTCOM) has pushed back against the Iranian claims, describing many of them as exaggerated or false while confirming defensive actions and ongoing vigilance in the region.
“The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claims today that it struck the US Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain and a US air base in the region with missiles and drones. False. All Iranian attacks on American forces have failed. US forces remain vigilant and ready to defend against further aggression.
Recent US operations targeted Iranian capabilities threatening maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, including air-defense systems, command networks, and Revolutionary Guard naval assets.”
The exchanges come amid heightened tensions following US strikes on Iranian targets and disputes over the Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait and Bahrain reportedly activated air defenses during the incidents. No independent verification of the extent of damage has been fully confirmed, with Western and regional sources often downplaying Iranian claims of success.
This latest flare-up risks further destabilizing the Gulf region, with potential implications for global energy markets and international shipping. Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate appear limited as both sides exchange threats.
