DUBAI: Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait on Sunday after the United States carried out strikes on five Iranian military targets, marking a sharp escalation in regional tensions and placing a fragile US-Iran ceasefire under renewed strain.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted the US Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Port Salman in Bahrain with ballistic missiles and drones in retaliation for American strikes.
Bahrain condemned the attacks, describing them as a violation of its sovereignty that undermined efforts aimed at regional de-escalation and stability. Kuwait also denounced what it called repeated Iranian aggression, saying the strikes constituted a flagrant violation of its sovereignty.
The escalation followed US military strikes on Iranian positions in Sirik, Bandar-e Lengeh and Qeshm Island on Saturday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American naval and air forces struck 10 Iranian military targets near the Strait of Hormuz in response to an Iranian drone attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker Kiku.
According to CENTCOM, the tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil when it was attacked while transiting near the Strait of Hormuz. Britain’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel sustained damage to its bridge but all crew members were safe.
Several Gulf states condemned Iran’s attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. Qatar called for restraint and urged all parties to avoid actions that could further destabilise the region. The United Arab Emirates described the strikes as a blatant violation of the sovereignty of both countries and a threat to regional security, while Jordan termed the attacks a dangerous escalation and a breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.
Oman also rejected actions that threaten regional peace and called on all sides to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy to contain the crisis.
The latest escalation follows a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. A Singapore-registered container ship, Ever Lovely, was struck by a drone on Thursday without causing casualties. The United States responded with strikes on Iranian positions, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks on US military facilities in the Gulf.
Iran has maintained that vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz must use routes designated by Tehran and warned that ships using alternative routes would be considered in violation of the ceasefire arrangements. The International Maritime Organization has suspended its planned evacuation of stranded vessels in the waterway following the recent attacks.
US President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire agreement reached on June 17 and warned that Washington could resume broader military operations if Tehran continued its actions.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US strikes on its southern coastal military facilities, calling them a violation of the bilateral memorandum of understanding and the UN Charter. Tehran said it would continue to defend its sovereignty against what it described as US military aggression.
Speaking in Iraq, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iran’s oversight for the next 30 days and warned that any further escalation could delay the full reopening of the strategic waterway.
The memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran, signed after the conflict that began on February 28, committed both sides to cease military operations and ensure the safe passage of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while negotiations on a broader settlement continue.
The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments, making any disruption to navigation a major concern for international energy markets and regional security.