Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday, describing the strikes as retaliation for a US attack on Iran's Qeshm Island earlier. Iran's Armed Forces said they targeted the US Fifth Fleet and a US air base in the region in response to what they called US strikes on an Iranian telecommunications antenna and oil tanker, adding that the operation fulfilled a previously issued warning of a "more severe" response.
Kuwait's military said its air defence systems were actively intercepting hostile missiles and drones early Wednesday, after residents across the country reported hearing loud explosions amid escalating tensions in the Gulf.
In an initial statement, the Kuwaiti Army's General Staff said air defences were "currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks" and clarified that any explosion sounds heard by the public were the result of interception operations carried out by the country's defence systems.
As the situation unfolded, the military issued a second public warning, urging citizens and residents not to approach or touch any debris, shrapnel, or unidentified objects that may have fallen as a result of intercepting hostile aerial targets. Officials warned that such remnants could pose a serious risk to public safety.
The statement, delivered by the Ministry of Defence's official spokesperson, Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, called on the public to immediately report any suspicious debris to emergency services via the 112 hotline or to the relevant authorities. The military also urged people to rely on authorised official sources for information and to strictly follow security and safety instructions.
"The General Staff of the Army calls on everyone to cooperate and adhere to the issued guidelines to preserve the security and safety of all," the statement said.
The developments come amid heightened regional tensions following recent military exchanges involving the United States and Iran.
Meanwhile, Iran's state broadcaster IRIB claimed that American bases in Kuwait had been targeted after what it described as "hostile actions" by the US in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and on Qeshm Island. The broadcaster alleged that US military facilities in Kuwait were struck, though no independent confirmation of the claim was immediately available.
Bahrain's Interior Ministry said a warning siren was activated on Wednesday, urging citizens and residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location while following official safety instructions.
Meanwhile, Iran's IRIB has shared footage on X claiming missiles passing through the skies of Bahrain.
According to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, the Iranian Armed Forces said they had targeted the US Fifth Fleet and a US air base in the region in response to what they described as a US attack on a telecommunications antenna and an Iranian oil tanker. "Following the US attack on a telecommunications antenna and an Iranian oil tanker, we targeted the United States Fifth Fleet and a US air base in the region," the military said. It added that it had previously warned any aggression would be met with a "different and more severe" response, stating: "We had previously warned that in the event of aggression, the response would be different and more severe, and tonight we acted on our word."
The United States launched a strike on Iran's Qeshm Island on June 2, targeting what it described as an Iranian military ground control station used to direct drone operations. The action came after US forces intercepted multiple Iranian drones and ballistic missiles that were launched across the Middle East, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM was quick to issue a fact check later and deny the Iranians' claims of its attack on its bases in the region.
The incident marks a significant escalation in regional tensions and is likely to intensify concerns over security across the Gulf region.
Source: India Today