Iran Launches Multi-Front Retaliatory Operation Against US Military Targets
Missile and drone strikes hit US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain after US attacks on Iran, while explosions also struck separatist militant headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iran, PUREWILAYAH.COM — Iran launched a wide-ranging retaliatory operation against American military targets across West Asia early Wednesday, striking US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain and targeting separatist militant headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan following a series of US attacks on Iranian assets.
The escalation followed attacks by US forces on an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz and a strike on an IRGC communications tower in the southern part of Qeshm Island.
In an official statement, the Public Relations Office of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that Iran had carried out retaliatory missile and drone operations against American targets in response to what it described as US aggression.
US Military Bases in Kuwait and Bahrain Come Under Attack
The Kuwaiti military confirmed missile and drone attacks early Wednesday morning, with air raid sirens activated across parts of the country and air defense systems responding to incoming projectiles.
Videos circulating on social media showed warning sirens sounding in multiple areas of Kuwait while air defenses at American military installations were activated.
Explosions were reported in Al-Surra, southern Kuwait, as well as at Ali Al-Salem Air Base, where US forces are stationed. Reports also indicated that the Arifjan military base in southern Kuwait was targeted.
Additional footage showed ballistic missiles launched from western Iran, coinciding with strikes on American positions in Kuwait. Multiple waves of missiles were launched during the operation, while air defense activity continued across the country.
Simultaneously, explosions and air raid alerts were reported in Bahrain. Warning sirens sounded at American military facilities as air defense systems were activated.
Explosions were reported at the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and at Al-Jafri base in Bahrain. Reports also indicated that Iranian Shahed-136 drones were launched toward Bahrain during the operation.
The attacks triggered significant disruption across the Gulf region. Airports in Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE suspended flight operations, while Bahrain closed its airspace for several hours. Air traffic over Dubai was also affected, with aircraft reportedly placed in holding patterns over the Persian Gulf.
Retaliation Linked to US Strikes on Iranian Assets
According to the IRGC statement, the operation was launched after a US aerial strike damaged an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement added that a vessel identified as “Panaya,” described as belonging to the American-Zionist side, was subsequently targeted by missiles launched by the IRGC Navy.
Iran also stated that after US forces targeted an IRGC communications tower on Qeshm Island, the IRGC Aerospace Force responded by attacking an American air and helicopter base in the region as well as the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet.
“We had previously warned that any act of aggression would be met with a different and heavier response, and we have acted accordingly,” the statement said.
The IRGC further warned that any attempt to disrupt security in the Strait of Hormuz would carry severe consequences for the United States military.
Explosions Reported at Separatist Militant Headquarters in Iraqi Kurdistan
As the attacks on US facilities unfolded, explosions were also reported north of Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Iraqi sources reported that a compound belonging to Kurdish separatist militant groups in the Darah Alaneh area, approximately 120 kilometers northeast of Erbil, was struck.
The Komala militant group later announced that two Iranian missiles hit its headquarters in the area late Tuesday night.
The latest developments mark one of the broadest Iranian retaliatory operations since the beginning of the current US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, extending across multiple countries and targeting both American military infrastructure and armed groups viewed by Tehran as hostile. (PW)