Iran attacks Kuwait and Bahrain in response to US strikes | US-Israel war on Iran News
Tensions Escalate as Iran Attacks U.S. Military Bases in Bahrain and Kuwait
Iran has launched missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait. This escalation follows a U.S. military strike on five Iranian locations over the weekend, raising concerns over the fragile ceasefire established earlier this month.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the attacks on Sunday, aimed at the U.S. Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the U.S. Fifth Fleet at Port Salman in Bahrain.
Bahrain condemned the strikes, citing violations of its sovereignty and warning that the attacks jeopardize prospects for regional stability. Kuwait criticized what it termed “repeated heinous Iranian aggressions,” labeling them a direct violation of its sovereignty.
The U.S. military had conducted air and naval strikes on Iranian military targets in Sirik, Bandar-e Lengeh, and Qeshm Island on Saturday. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated the strikes were a response to an Iranian drone attack on the Kiku oil tanker, which was reportedly carrying over two million barrels of crude oil when it was struck near the Strait of Hormuz.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the Panama-flagged vessel suffered damage to its bridge, but all crew members were safe.
The recent attacks follow a series of hostilities that began with a drone strike on the Singapore-registered container ship Ever Lovely on Thursday, which resulted in no injuries. The U.S. retaliated by targeting locations in Iran, further intensifying the conflict cycle.
Iran has asserted that vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz must adhere to designated routes, warning that using unauthorized paths would violate the ceasefire agreement. The International Maritime Organization halted plans to evacuate ships stranded in the strait following the Ever Lovely incident.
In a statement on social media, President Donald Trump indicated that Iran had breached the ceasefire agreement signed on June 17. He warned that continued aggression could lead to significant military ramifications for Iran.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the U.S. strikes as violations of both a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the United Nations charter. The ministry asserted that Iran would defend its sovereignty against what it termed U.S. military aggression.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking from Iraq, emphasized that Iran maintains complete control of the Strait of Hormuz for the next 30 days, cautioning that further incidents could escalate tensions and hinder reconciliation efforts.
The MoU, which extended a prior ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, emphasizes safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global oil transport accounting for about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply.
Analyst Wolfgang Pusztai commented on the potential for unintended escalation, noting that significant civilian casualties or attacks on U.S. bases could destabilize the situation further.
