Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting Kuwait and Bahrain on Tuesday, striking Kuwait International Airport and prompting a new round of US military action in the Gulf, according to US and regional officials.
Kuwait suspended all flights after a missile strike damaged part of the airport’s Terminal 1 building and injured several people, state media reported. Authorities said they were assessing the extent of the damage before resuming normal operations.
The US military said two Iranian missiles aimed at Kuwait failed to reach their targets, while three missiles launched at Bahrain were intercepted by US and Bahraini forces. US Central Command said Iranian ballistic missiles and drones directed at regional neighbours failed to hit their intended targets.
The attacks came after US forces carried out what they described as self-defence strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island. US said the action was taken in response to attempted Iranian attacks and ongoing threats to US personnel and assets in the region.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched missile and drone attacks against the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet and other military targets in the Gulf. Iranian media said the operation was retaliation for recent US strikes on Iranian facilities.
The latest exchanges have added to uncertainty over efforts to secure a broader ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. Diplomatic talks remain stalled, while renewed military activity has raised concerns about the conflict spreading further across the Gulf region. Oil prices rose as investors reacted to the latest developments.
US officials said American forces also intercepted drones aimed at civilian shipping and military positions, while warning that further attacks would be met with additional defensive measures.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
