Iran strikes Kuwait and Bahrain after US attacks on Qeshm island, killing one and wounding 63

Iran launched a wave of missile and drone attacks against Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday, marking a sharp escalation in the simmering low-intensity conflict with the United States. The attacks, claimed by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, were described as a response to US strikes on an Iranian tanker and a communications tower on Qeshm island in the Strait of Hormuz. Kuwait reported one fatality, later identified as an Indian citizen, and 63 wounded, with significant damage to the international airport terminal.

The immediate trigger

The latest exchange began when US forces, operating with allied partners, conducted what CENTCOM called "self-defense strikes" against a military ground control station on Iran's Qeshm island. The US also confirmed intercepting an Iranian-flagged tanker. Iran's Foreign Ministry accused the US of launching these attacks "from two countries in the region," directly implicating Kuwait and Bahrain for allowing their territory to be used.

Our Armed Forces are carrying out attacks in legitimate self-defense against facilities that the United States has permission to use in order to attack civilian vessels and violate the ceasefire.

The attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain

Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for missile and drone strikes targeting the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, as well as other airbases in the Middle East and a US-flagged vessel. In Kuwait, authorities reported that their air defense systems engaged 13 missiles and 17 drones. Despite these efforts, at least one projectile struck the passenger terminal at Kuwait International Airport, causing significant damage and forcing a suspension of flights.

CENTCOM stated that three missiles fired at Bahrain were intercepted by US and Bahraini air defense forces, and two missiles aimed at Kuwait either missed or disintegrated in flight. The US military also reported shooting down three one-way attack drones launched by Iran against civilian mariners in regional waters. However, Kuwait's government confirmed the death and injuries, contradicting the US assertion that no missiles reached their targets.

Our investigation into the attack on the Kuwaiti passenger terminal shows that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force did not fire any projectile at this target.

Diplomatic fallout

Kuwait summoned Iran's chargé d'affaires to formally protest the attacks and declared two Iranian embassy staffers persona non grata, giving them 24 hours to leave the country. The European Union issued a strong condemnation, calling the deliberate attacks on civilian facilities "unacceptable" and a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The EU also urged full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, adopted on March 11, 2026, which demands Iran immediately cease attacks on Gulf states.

The Secretary-General urges all parties to act with maximum restraint and avoid a new escalation that could undermine ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Ceasefire under strain

The violence unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire declared by President Donald Trump on April 8, following a war that began on February 28. Neither side has formally declared the truce broken, but both accuse the other of violations. Negotiations mediated by Pakistan have stalled, with Iran pausing talks over Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Analysts describe the situation as a managed low-intensity conflict, with both Washington and Tehran using calibrated force to maintain pressure while avoiding a full rupture.

Strait of Hormuz blockade

CENTCOM reported that 125 merchant vessels have been prevented from transiting the Strait of Hormuz since the perimeter closure was announced, with six ships immobilized to enforce the blockade. The strait remains a critical chokepoint for global oil and gas exports, and its effective closure is approaching 90 days. Despite a tentative agreement last week to extend the truce for two months and guarantee passage, Washington continues to impose sanctions on entities linked to Iranian oil trade.

Broader implications

The exchange highlights the precarious state of US-Iran relations and the vulnerability of Gulf states hosting American military infrastructure. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned that any hostile act would receive an "immediate and decisive" response, while also stating that what sanctions and war have not achieved will not be achieved with more war. With US midterm elections approaching in November, analysts suggest Trump is eager for a concrete deal, but Iranian leadership remains unmoved by the timeline.