Iran and the United States engaged in a new round of attacks across the Gulf region on Saturday, marking the seventh consecutive night of military strikes as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz continue to escalate. The exchange involved strikes on military targets, critical infrastructure, and civilian facilities in Iran and US-allied Gulf states, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported launching missile and drone attacks on US and allied facilities. Among the targeted sites were a US military support center at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base, and a US combat aircraft aggregation point at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base. The IRGC also claimed attacks on a US base in Al Azraq, Jordan, asserting destruction of US fighter jets, though these claims could not be independently verified. Additionally, Iran reportedly struck Saudi Arabia’s Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh, hosting US forces, triggering air raid alarms in the region.
Kuwait experienced significant impact from Iranian strikes, with attacks hitting a desalination plant, power generation units, and a major oil facility. The Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed that two desalination plants had been hit within two days, sparking fires and forcing the temporary suspension of operations at Kuwait International Airport. Several firefighters and oil sector workers were injured in the firefighting and damage control efforts, while Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported significant material damage to its oil facilities. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, characterizing Iran’s targeting of vital civilian infrastructure as violations of international law and holding Tehran fully responsible.
Bahrain also faced repeated aerial attacks, with its army intercepting a wave of Iranian missiles and drones. Air raid sirens sounded multiple times in Manama, prompting authorities to call for residents to take shelter. Jordan intercepted several Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, intercepts confirmed by Jordanian military authorities. Meanwhile, Iraqi forces reported intercepting Iranian attack drones over the city of Erbil.
The United States conducted overnight strikes on Iranian surveillance sites, logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities, according to US Central Command. These operations have expanded in scale and intensity following the breakdown of a memorandum of understanding established in mid-June, aimed at ceasefire and de-escalation. US officials frame their military activities as targeting Iranian military capabilities to curb Tehran’s influence in the region.
Iranian officials accuse Washington of breaching the ceasefire agreement and deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure. Iranian state media report that US strikes have damaged critical infrastructure such as bridges, railway lines, and desalination plants, leaving thousands without water, especially in southern counties like Jask. Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, denounced the US actions as violating international agreements and warned of severe repercussions.
The conflict centers on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint for global energy shipments. Since fighting escalated, commercial traffic through the strait has slowed significantly, contributing to rising global oil prices and increasing economic strain in the region. Kuwait residents have expressed growing concern over potential shortages of essential goods, including water and food supplies, amid the continuing attacks on critical infrastructure.
The ongoing conflict poses a growing humanitarian and economic challenge to Gulf states heavily reliant on stable power, water, and energy resources. Regional bodies such as the Gulf Cooperation Council have condemned Iran’s strikes on civilian facilities as violations of international law and urged accountability.
As the situation persists, there are heightened fears that the military confrontation could widen, affecting broader regional security and international shipping lanes critical to global trade.