The Middle East moved further into conflict early Sunday after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that its navy and aerospace forces had carried out a combined missile and drone operation against US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. The move was described as retaliation for recent American strikes inside Iran.
The Guard stated the attacks responded to US operations on Saturday that hit Iranian missile and drone storage sites and coastal radar installations. Iranian state media reported that the Guard also claimed Washington struck five Iranian coastal positions, citing an incident involving a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
Kuwait’s army said its air defence systems intercepted what it called hostile missiles and drones. US officials have not yet confirmed details on damage or casualties at the targeted sites.
In a statement, the Guard accused the United States of breaking the ceasefire and warned that further violations of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding would end all current diplomatic efforts. It added that vessels considered in violation would face stronger measures and that any enemy aggression would meet a severe response.
The latest round of strikes followed a US operation hours earlier against Iran after an attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker M/T Kiku near the Strait of Hormuz. This marked the second straight day of US military action tied to incidents involving commercial shipping in the waterway.
The US Central Command said the strikes were ordered by President Donald Trump after Iran allegedly broke the ceasefire. According to the command, Tehran did not uphold the truce following a drone strike on the M/T Kiku, which was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil.
Explosions were reported in southern Iran, with local media noting blasts near Sirik Island close to the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also indicated US strikes hit a village on Qeshm Island.
After the strikes, President Trump warned Tehran that the United States might have to finish the military operation if Iran continued to violate the ceasefire. He stated on social media that further action could lead to the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Saturday’s strikes followed an earlier US operation in response to Iran’s attack on the cargo vessel M/V Ever Lovely in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. The exchange has increased tensions between Washington and Tehran and raised concerns that the ceasefire reached two weeks ago may collapse.
