Iran strikes US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain after drone attacks on Iranian territory: Report

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeted US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain with ballistic missiles on Saturday, following US drone attacks on Iranian sites. The IRGC struck the Ali al-Salem air base in Kuwait and US Navy Fifth Fleet facilities in Bahrain, according to Tasnim News. The strikes came after the US military downed four Iranian drones targeting the Strait of Hormuz and hit Iranian radar sites on Goruk and Qeshm Island. The IRGC stated the attacks were retaliation for US drone strikes on a telecommunications tower on Qeshm Island and another in Sirik. In response, Iran warned of broader escalation, including the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for global oil and gas shipments. The US military intercepted six missiles and confirmed a seventh did not reach its target, while Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted additional attacks. Tensions escalated after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February triggered a cycle of retaliatory strikes. Iran has previously targeted countries hosting US bases and disrupted shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20% of the world’s oil previously transited. The US and Iran have engaged in indirect negotiations for an interim deal to halt the conflict, but skirmishes continue. The IRGC also fired on four tankers attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without permission, further straining regional stability. Iran has demanded access to frozen oil revenues, sanctions relief, and control over the strait as part of any agreement. US President Donald Trump faces domestic pressure to end the war amid rising gas prices, though Iran retains a portion of its missile and drone capabilities.