Iran claimed Saturday that it struck US military targets in Dubai and Kuwait, widening fears of a broader regional war as air travel, shipping routes and military activity across the Gulf faced mounting disruption.
Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps said it carried out missile and drone attacks on what it described as two US Army “hideouts” in Dubai, alleging more than 500 American personnel were stationed there. Iranian officials also claimed ambulances were seen transporting dead and wounded US troops for hours after the strikes. Those claims were accompanied by a warning from an Iranian spokesperson, who said, “Trump and the commanders of the US Army must have fully understood that the region will turn into a graveyard for American soldiers, and they will have no choice but to surrender to the divine will of the heroic people and the brave warriors of Islam.”
Iran warns Gulf countries over US-Israel alliance
As the conflict entered another dangerous phase, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian warned Gulf states against allowing the United States or Israel to use their territory for attacks on Iran.
“We have said many times that Iran doesn’t carry out preemptive attacks, but we will retaliate strongly if our infrastructure or economic centres are targeted,” Pezeshkian said in a post on X.
“To the countries of the region: If you want development and security, don’t let our enemies run the war from your lands,” he added.
Kuwait airport hit, regional air travel disrupted
Kuwait International Airport was also hit by multiple drone strikes that damaged its radar system, though no casualties were reported. Kuwait’s Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson later blamed Iran, its proxies and allied armed factions for the attack.
The broader US-Iran confrontation has rattled air traffic across the region. Airports in Kuwait and Bahrain temporarily halted operations, airlines cancelled thousands of flights, and airspace closures disrupted passenger travel, cargo movement and supply chains.
IRGC claims naval strikes, Houthis launch missile at Israel
Iran’s Guards also said they struck six US landing craft utilities at Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait during the 84th wave of Operation True Promise 4. The IRGC said the attack involved domestically made missiles, including Qadr 380 cruise missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometres.
“In continuation of the 84th wave of Operation True Promise 4, the IRGC naval units conducted a hybrid operation against US and Israeli terrorists deployed in al-Shoyoukh port as well as Dubai’s coasts and port, hitting downhearted American troops and their tactical hardware precisely,” the public relations department of the IRGC said in a statement.
“Given field reports, three of the combat vessels sank after the (retaliatory) strikes, whilst the rest are aflame,” the IRGC said.
The Guards also claimed kamikaze drones targeted US drone personnel gathering centres and a hotel in Dubai. Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they fired ballistic missiles at “sensitive Israeli military sites” in southern Israel, as the war marked one month and showed signs of spreading across multiple fronts.
