Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed responsibility for destroying eight US military infrastructures in Kuwait and Bahrain. The operation, described as a joint missile and drone strike, was launched in retaliation for a second wave of US military attacks on Iranian targets, according to a statement carried by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).
Details of the IRGC Operation
The IRGC's Public Relations department stated that its naval and aerospace forces launched ballistic missiles and drones between 2:00 am and 3:00 am local time on Sunday, July 27. The targets included the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Port Salman in Bahrain. The IRGC described the operation as a "decisive response" to recent US aggression.
"Your zealous sons in the IRGC's naval and air forces, during a joint missile and drone operation at 2-3 am today, Sunday, July 27, destroyed eight important infrastructures of the child-killing US army at the Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait and the Fifth Naval Fleet in Port Salman, Bahrain, by launching ballistic missiles and drones at them and decisively responded to the recent US aggression," the statement said.
US Attacks and Ceasefire Violations
The IRGC further stated that US forces had attacked five Iranian coastal positions earlier on Sunday, accusing Washington of violating a ceasefire agreement as per the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides to end hostilities in West Asia. It warned that any future attacks on Iran, regardless of scale, would be met with a "crushing response."
According to the IRGC, the MoU arrangements give Iran authority for traffic control in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement added, "According to the memorandum of understanding, Islamabad has arrangements to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz with the Islamic Republic, and from now on, violating ships will be dealt with more forcefully than in the past, and any potential enemy aggression, under any pretext, even if the aggressions are against minor targets, as happened last night and tonight, will have a crushing response."
US Central Command's Response
The latest escalation follows US Central Command (CENTCOM) statements that American forces carried out additional strikes against multiple military targets in Iran on June 27, under the direction of US President Donald Trump. CENTCOM said the operation came after Iran allegedly failed to uphold the ceasefire and launched a one-way drone attack that struck the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil.
"U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran, June 27, at the Commander in Chief's direction," the statement read. "After yesterday's U.S. strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET. The Panama-flagged tanker was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz with more than two-million barrels of crude oil."
CENTCOM said US aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities, and mine-laying capabilities. It added that commercial vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was continuing and that US forces remained prepared for further contingencies.
Regional Reactions
Following the reported Iranian missile and drone attack, the Kuwait Army General Staff Headquarters said in a post on X that Kuwaiti air defence systems were intercepting "hostile missile and drone attacks." It advised residents that explosion sounds were from air defence interceptions and urged the public to follow official safety instructions.
Bahrain's Ministry of Interior announced on X that warning sirens had been activated and called on citizens and residents to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels.
Background of the Conflict
This is the second consecutive strike by the US in two days on Iranian targets following Iran's alleged attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. According to a CENTCOM statement on Saturday, US forces carried out strikes on June 26 in response to an attack a day earlier on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely, which was hit by a one-way attack drone launched by Iranian forces while exiting the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast.
"U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone," CENTCOM said in its earlier statement.
