Iran launched drone and missile attacks against American military infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar on Thursday after a second consecutive night of United States strikes killed at least 14 people and wounded 78 across several Iranian provinces, according to Iranian officials.
The renewed exchange has placed further pressure on a fragile ceasefire and raised fresh concerns over regional security, commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and global energy supplies.
Iran said its forces targeted “US bases and strategic centres” in the three Gulf countries. Iranian authorities described the attacks as retaliation for US strikes on locations including Bushehr, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Sirik.
Iran Targets American Military Infrastructure in Gulf States
Iran’s military said drones targeted US Patriot missile systems in Kuwait, an early-warning facility in Qatar and an American military fuel storage site in Bahrain.
Kuwait said its forces confronted a cruise missile, three ballistic missiles and 10 drones. One person suffered injuries from falling debris.
Missiles launched from Iran also entered Jordanian airspace, prompting air defence operations. Jordanian authorities said eight missiles were intercepted without reported injuries or property damage.
The latest Iranian attacks followed two rounds of US military operations against more than 170 targets over approximately 48 hours. US Central Command said the strikes targeted air defence systems, coastal surveillance facilities, command networks, missile and drone storage locations, naval capabilities and military logistics infrastructure.
US President Donald Trump described the attacks as “retribution” for alleged Iranian strikes against commercial ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz.
“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Strait of Hormuz Disruption Fuels Oil Market Concerns
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that continued US military action would trigger a “crushing response” and further disrupt efforts to restore maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC said shipping activity had recovered to about 50 per cent of levels recorded before the conflict. The organization blamed Washington’s “adventurism and interference” for renewed disruption.
“Foreigners have no stake in this land and in the Strait of Hormuz,” the IRGC said.
The strategically important waterway handled roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies before the conflict began. Oil prices moved sharply as traders assessed whether the latest attacks represented a temporary escalation or the collapse of ceasefire efforts.
US Strikes Kill Civilians as Regional Diplomacy Continues
Iranian authorities said a US strike on a fishing pier in Sirik killed three people and injured 15 others. Explosions were also reported in Bushehr province and Bandar Abbas.
Qatar renewed calls for diplomacy as Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held discussions with regional leaders and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. Qatar also condemned attacks against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The escalation unfolded as Iran prepared to bury slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Mashhad following funeral processions attended by large crowds in the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala.
