Srinagar, Jul 08: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday claimed it had launched a large-scale joint missile and drone operation targeting 85 sites linked to United States military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, in what it described as an initial response to fresh American strikes on Iranian territory, according to multiple international media reports.
The IRGC said its naval and aerospace forces carried out coordinated attacks on the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait. It also claimed to have downed a US MQ-9 Reaper drone during the operation, though there was no immediate confirmation from Washington.
According to reports, Tehran said the operation was launched after the United States carried out aerial attacks on Iranian coastal military bases and non-military installations in Hormozgan and Mahshahr earlier in the day. Iranian authorities described the US action as a violation of a fragile ceasefire and the Islamabad agreement that had sought to ease tensions in the region.
The IRGC further alleged that the timing of the US strikes coincided with funeral ceremonies for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, accusing Washington of attempting to overshadow what it described as a historic national event.
Reports said Bahrain and Kuwait activated air defence systems following the claimed missile and drone attacks. Kuwaiti authorities acknowledged intercepting hostile aerial threats, while Bahrain also responded with defensive measures.
The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in hostilities between Tehran and Washington, raising concerns over regional security and maritime stability in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices rose amid fears of further disruption, while diplomatic efforts to restore the ceasefire remained uncertain.
