Iran Strikes Eight US Bases in the Gulf

Iran has escalated its response to United States military action by announcing an operation involving missiles and drones that it claims targeted eight US military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain. The attack was announced after the US launched fresh airstrikes on southern Iran in the early hours of Sunday. The exchange of strikes represents one of the most serious military confrontations between Tehran and Washington since the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to end hostilities and pave the way for negotiations towards a permanent agreement. Iran considers the US military operation a violation of the memorandum of understanding and international law. Tehran also warned that further strikes could potentially derail the ongoing diplomatic process. In a statement released before dawn on Sunday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that its naval and aerospace forces launched a combined operation between 02:00 and 03:00 local time. The IRGC claimed ballistic missiles and drones struck eight US military facilities, including the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Mina Salman, Bahrain. According to the IRGC, the targets were destroyed as a ‘firm response to recent American aggression’. However, the statement did not detail the six other locations. There has been no confirmation from the US government regarding the claim. The IRGC also accused Washington of violating its commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum. According to them, the US attacked five coastal locations in Iran under the pretext of responding to Iran’s interception of a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The Revolutionary Guard asserted that under Article 5 of the Islamabad Memorandum, the authority to regulate shipping in the Strait of Hormuz rests with the Islamic Republic of Iran. They warned that vessels violating the provisions would face stricter law enforcement action. Iran also cautioned that any further US attacks, including against secondary targets, would be met with what they termed a ‘crippling response’.