AJ
The story so far… On Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday morning, US Naval forces were once again escorting ‘dark’ vessels (with transponders turned off) along a designated route on the coast of Oman, but Iran appear to have this route scouted very well, targeting the vessel as it made its way under US protection, leading to a rapid exchange of tit-for-tat retaliations on US and Iranian missile sites by each country’s armed forces, while Iran also targeted US bases and interests in Kuwait and Bahrain…
⚡️ Explosion sounds were heard in the area of Qeshm Island early on Wednesday morning, according to local sources and residents, claiming the exact nature and cause of explosions remained unclear.
🔹 No official military or law enforcement authorities had yet commented on the incident, according to Mehr News Agency, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the source and circumstances of the reported explosions, and IRIB said it was likely US forces firing at anti-ship missile systems.
🔹 Iran retaliated back towards Kuwait with a barrage of up to 5 missiles launched from the Shiraz area of Iran targeting Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, which Tasnim and IRIB news linked to retaliation for the ship being targeted in the Hormuz by US forces earlier in the evening.
🔹 Explosions were also reported in the Erbil Province of Iraq, initially suspected to be part of the original missile barrage, but Middle East Spectator claimed that Iranian fighter jets carried out the bombing, and had returned to Iranian airspace, having taken off from Ahvaz, while Mehr News confirmed the headquarters of the anti-Iranian separatist group in Alan Valley had been targeted, and later, two missiles allegedly struck the Komala Toilers of Kurdistan HQ in northeast Erbil.
🔹 The Islamic Republic Air Force issued a statement confirming that the IRIAF had conducted airstrikes on Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups near Erbil, northern Iraq, using SU-25 Fencer strike bombers which took off from Vahdati Air Base in Dezful and Omidieh Air Base in Omidieh, which came just one night after IRIAF SU-24 Fencer Strike Bombers conducted a live-fire exercise near the Iraqi border along with other Iranian aircraft.
🔹 More sirens followed in Kuwait within 30 minutes along with at least 2-3 explosions reported, as Nova Rerum claimed a local source said the explosions felt like they’d ‘had it or something,’ and could be heard at Ali Salem Airbase, which was once again being targeted by missiles.
🔹 Iran targeted Bahrain next, as sirens rang out early on Wednesday morning, followed by footage of air activity in the country, with missiles reportedly launched from Jam City, Bandar Kangan, and Borozjan in the Bushehr Province, during the latest round of attacks.
🔹 Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior issued a safety warning on X, asking citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place, and to only receive news through official channels, while Naya reported the airspace had been closed in Bahrain until 4pm with only limited pre-approved departures.
🔹 Iran’s IRGC published a statement alleging confirmed hits on the US Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain, however, US Central Command’s statement claimed the US forces successfully defeated multiple missiles and drones, while conducting self-defence strikes on Qeshm Island in response to attempted attacks by Iran across the Middle East.
🔹 Images circulating online from Sabereen News appeared to confirm the strike on the US Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain, despite CENTCOM rejecting a previous IRGC assertion of successful hits, when they confirmed all missiles and drones were intercepted or failed to reach their targets.
🔹 US Central Command published a statement claiming Iran launched several missiles and drones towards neighbouring countries, including two fired towards Kuwait that fell short or broke apart mid-flight, while three missiles aimed at Bahrain were intercepted by Bahraini and US air defences, adding that the US forces also shot down three Iranian one-way attack drones heading towards civilian shipping in regional waters, adding that the American forces conducted self-defence strikes on an Iranian military ground control system on Qeshm Island.
🔹 In their third statement of the evening, US Central Command said an additional wave of Iranian drones attempting to attack US forces in Kuwait failed to impact on their intended targets: “US Central Command air defences successfully downed multiple drones and ensured no American personnel or assets were harmed.”
🔹 Soon after the missile attack, the skies were filled with the sounds of Shahed-136 attack drones flying towards Kuwait from the Basra Governorate, allegedly launched from the Omidieh area of Khuzestan Province and areas of northern Bushehr Province in southwest Iran, according to Geopolitics Watch.
🔹 Following reports of various drones heading towards Kuwait, along with footage showing what appeared to be a Shahed-136 (but could also be a US Lucas clone), heading towards Kuwaiti airspace from Iraq.
🔹 Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence reported that several drones had targeted Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport as part of the ongoing Iranian attack, causing significant damage to the terminal, while initial reports suggested several people had been injured.
🔹 Footage from inside the terminal showed extensive damage of Kuwait Airport, as Mehr News claimed Iranian officials had previously clarified: “Any place that is the origin of aggression against our country will be a legitimate target.”
🔹 Analysts reported that Iran launched at least 10 ballistic missiles and several Shahed-131/136 drones towards the US Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and the US Navy’s 5th Fleet Base in Manama, Bahrain, while also targeting the MSC Panaya container ship with missiles.
🔹 Satellite imagery shared by various sources appeared to confirm an aircraft shelter at the Ali Al Salem Airbase had been damaged by an Iranian strike, according to EGYOSINT.
🔹 EGYOSINT also stated that satellite imagery showed a massive hole in the upper structure of Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport following the overnight drone attack.
🔹 Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Interior Fahad Yousef Saud al-Sabah conducted an inspection tour of Terminal 1 at Kuwait International Airport during the afternoon, to access the damage caused by the alleged overnight Iranian drone attack.
🔹 CCTV Cameras captured what appeared to be the moment an Iranian Shahed-136 drone struck Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport in the early hours of Wednesday morning, but note while all other pictures and cameras are dark, this almost appears to be in daylight.
Statements:
⚡️ IRGC announced that the US had struck an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz with an aerial projectile, causing damage to the engine room, so in response, an ‘enemy American-Zionist vessel named Panaya was targeted by missiles from the IRGC Navy,” reported IRNA news agency.
🔹 The statement said that following this attempt on the Panaya, the US renewed attacks targeting an IRGC telecommunications tower south of Qeshm Island with aerial projectiles, so in response to the aggression, the US airbase and helicopter base stationed in one of the regional countries, as well as the US Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain, were attacked by missile and drone attacks by the IRGC.
🔹 IRGC continued that warnings had been given before that the response would be heavier and stronger if any further attacks occurred, and Iran acted accordingly: “These responses should serve as a lesson,” the statement said, adding: “We repeat, disrupting the security of the Strait of Hormuz will have a heavy price for the aggressive US military.”
⚡️ Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered Support to Iran’s right to defend its interests while targeting US military bases in the region, claiming it was a decisive reaction towards Washington’s aggressive policies in regional countries.
⚡️ Strong condemnation came from Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who claimed the attack on the Iranian tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and the assault on the telecommunications on Qeshm Island had originated from two regional countries.
🔹 The ministry said the aggressive actions not only violated the ceasefire agreement dated April 8, but also constituted a blatant breach of the fundamental principle of the prohibition of force under Article 2, paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter and international law.
🔹 Condemnation came from the Foreign Ministry toward the US for its colonial use of the territory and facilities of regional countries to advance aggressive plans against Iran, highlighting the direct and clear responsibility of the rulers of Kuwait and Bahrain regarding the aggressive actions of June 2.
🔹 The Ministry also said any country allowing aggressors to use its land, airspace, facilities, or bases located on its territory to carry out or support military aggression against Iran is in clear violation of fundamental international law rules and the principle of good neighbourliness and, according to the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3314, is considered to have committed an act of aggression against Iran.
🔹 According to the statement, Iran exercised its inherent rights to defend its territorial integrity and national sovereignty, and will use all capacities to counter future aggressive actions, including targeting the origin and source of the attacks.
🔹 The statement concluded, saying it was evident the responsibility for the consequences and outcomes of the situation lied with the American-Zionist aggressors and all parties who, by providing their territory and facilities, assist them in committing acts of aggression toward Iran.
⚡️ Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the latest Iranian missile and drone attacks ‘targeting civilian and vital facilities, including Kuwait International Airport.’
🔹 The statement said: “We reject these hostile actions, which increase tensions, undermine regional security and stability, and constitute violation of International law and UN Security Council Resolution 2817,” adding: “We reserve our full and legitimate right to take the appropriate measures in response to these repeated attacks in accordance with international law.”
🔹 Kuwait’s Health Ministry spokesman Dr Abdullah Al-Sanad said hospitals and emergency services received 63 injured people and carried out seven major emergency surgeries since the early hours, while Al Jazeera, citing the Kuwait Army, confirmed the death of an Indian national in the overnight attacks.
🔹 According to the Kuwait Times, the injured included civilians, airport workers and travellers, with reported injuries ranging from shrapnel wounds and fractures to head injuries, brain haemorrhages, amputations, and smoke inhalation.
⚡️ IRGC’s spokesperson said the destruction of the Kuwait Airport passenger terminal had been caused by an error from the US Patriot systems: “Our investigations and research on the hit to Kuwait passenger terminal shows that the IRGC Aerospace Force did not fire at this target, and the destruction of Kuwait Airport passenger terminal was caused by an error of the American Patriot systems which, after failing to intercept Iranian missiles, landed on the terminal.
🔹 Following reports from Iran that suggested the Patriot interceptor that misfired had struck Terminal 1 of the airport, US Central Command issued another fact check, this time saying the claims were false, and the truth was that Iran struck the civilian airport with drones in a deliberate, calculated, and unjustified attack.
🔹 Kuwait’s Civil Defence admitted to dealing with 9 reports of falling debris from interceptions of Iranian drones and missiles overnight, while the Ministry of Defence alleged Iran launched 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones at the country in the attack.
🔹 Following the attack, Kuwait summoned Iran’s chargé d’affaires, delivered an official protest note over the recent attacks, reduced the staffing level at the Iranian embassy, declared two Iranian diplomats persona non grata, and ordered them to leave the country within 24 hours.
⚡️ The Kuwaiti Interior Minister announced the arrest of a social media user who filmed and published videos showing air defences engaging missiles, using a mobile phone while driving, and was involved in a traffic accident, as the Ministry warned publishing images or videos related to military or security sites, air defence operations, or field readiness measures harms public safety and security, stressing legal action would be taken against violators.
⚡️ UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying: “The UAE strongly condemns the Iranian attacks that targeted Kuwait,” saying that Iranian attacks are a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a breach of international law: “Iranian attacks on Kuwait are a threat to its security, stability, and the safety of its vital facilities.”
⚡️ The President of UAE’s advisor Anwar Gargash said on X that in light of the repeated aggression against Kuwait and Bahrain, there must be a firm, unified, and cohesive Gulf stance, for no Gulf state should be left to face targeting alone, as the security of the Arab Gulf states is interconnected, their interests shared, and their fate is one – this aggression doesn’t target a specific state, ‘bur rather all of us.’
⚡️ A statement from the Gulf Cooperation Council read: “The Iranian aggression against Bahrain and Kuwait reveals the Iranian regime’s insistence on pursuing hostilities,” adding that Iran’s hostilities undermine the security and stability of the region’s country’s, “and threatens regional and international peace.”
⚡️ Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a call with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss regional developments, as Gulf and Arab states condemned the Iranian attacks on Kuwaiti and Bahraini civilian infrastructure.
Media Reports:
⚡️ Euronews reported an Iranian drone attack caused heavy damage to Kuwait International Airport, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing exchange of strikes between Iran and the United States, noting Kuwait authorities reported substantial damage to airport infrastructure, while emergency serves responded to the scene and flight operations were disrupted.
⚡️ Reuters said that the hostilities between Iran and the US flared up again as diplomatic efforts remained stalled, with both sides accusing each other of undermining progress toward a broader agreement, noting Iranian missiles targeted regional sites in the Gulf while the US carried out new strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, further escalating tensions despite a fragile ceasefire.
