Bahrain and Kuwait carry out airstrikes on Iran

Bahrain and Kuwait conducted airstrikes against military targets inside Iran earlier this month, marking a significant escalation and the first direct military response by the two Gulf states against Tehran. The operations, which reportedly targeted drone and missile storage depots and other military installations, were supported by the United Arab Emirates, which provided intelligence and defensive air cover.

The retaliatory strikes come after weeks of intense Iranian attacks focused on Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which host U.S. military bases. Iranian strikes have reportedly hit critical infrastructure in Kuwait, including a power plant and a water desalination facility. Regional officials have noted that Kuwait has faced attacks from both Iran and Iran-aligned militia groups in Iraq. Analysts consider both nations particularly vulnerable due to their geography and heavy reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports.

This development broadens the regional conflict, which began earlier this year with a ferocious U.S. and Israeli attack on Iran. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE conducted strikes on Iran in the initial phase of hostilities, Bahrain and Kuwait had not previously...