Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have strongly condemned Iranian drone attacks on Bahrain, which occurred on June 27 amid rising tensions in the Gulf following recent U.S. airstrikes on Iranian military facilities. The attacks included drone strikes targeting Bahraini territory as well as an assault on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the drone assault as a clear violation of Bahrain’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional stability and security. Kuwait emphasized that such hostile actions undermine ongoing efforts toward de-escalation in the Gulf and reiterated its full support for Bahrain’s measures to safeguard its sovereignty and protect its citizens. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi also condemned the attacks, characterizing them as deliberate attempts by Tehran to destabilize the region and hinder peaceful crisis resolution initiatives.
Al-Budaiwi highlighted the continued targeting of civilian infrastructure and underscored the GCC’s commitment to supporting Bahrain and all actions to defend its national security and territorial integrity. He also welcomed an initiative led by Oman, in coordination with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), to create a temporary maritime corridor to evacuate over 11,000 stranded seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz. The corridor aims to facilitate safe navigation and uninterrupted trade flows through one of the region’s vital waterways. The GCC chief praised the Omani initiative for balancing humanitarian concerns with the promotion of maritime security and compliance with international law, while rejecting reported Iranian objections to the measure.
The escalation unfolded hours after U.S. airstrikes targeted Iranian missile, drone, and radar installations in response to an Iranian drone attack on a commercial vessel earlier in the week. The U.S. described the earlier Iranian incident as a violation of a ceasefire agreement in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state-affiliated forces claimed responsibility for the recent attacks, asserting strikes on what they identified as U.S. military sites in the region. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry condemned the drone strikes as a significant threat to the safety of its citizens and residents.
U.S. officials, including Vice President JD Vance, issued warnings to Tehran against further aggression, emphasizing that any escalation would be met with force but encouraging diplomatic communication to resolve disagreements. The GCC foreign ministers, alongside U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Kuwait, reiterated the importance of respecting sovereignty and international law, underlining calls for peaceful solutions and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure regional and international stability.
The developments have intensified a cycle of retaliatory attacks and military responses, raising concerns about broader destabilization in the Gulf amid ongoing geopolitical frictions involving Iran, Gulf states, and the United States.