Iran Launches Missile and Drone Strikes on US Bases Across Middle East Following American Airstrikes

Tensions in the Middle East escalated dramatically on Wednesday after Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting American military installations in several countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.

Kuwait's military announced early Wednesday that it was responding to hostile aerial threats after Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had carried out an attack on the Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts US military personnel.

Iranian media also claimed that the IRGC launched long-range missile strikes against four locations within the US-operated Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan. According to the reports, the targets included F-35 fighter jet hangars and a military command center. Tehran warned that any further military action by the United States would trigger a stronger and more decisive response.

In Bahrain, authorities activated air raid sirens following the attacks. Reports citing a US official indicated that Iran fired four ballistic missiles alongside multiple drones at American military facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan.

Despite the scale of the assault, US officials said the attacks caused little damage. A senior American official told the New York Times that most of the missiles and drones were intercepted before reaching their targets. No US service members were reported killed, and military installations remained largely unaffected.

The Iranian offensive came in retaliation for US military strikes conducted on Tuesday night. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces targeted and destroyed several Iranian military assets, including air defence systems, radar installations, and ground control stations located near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM described the operation as a defensive and proportionate response to what it called Iranian aggression. The US military said the strikes were launched after Iran allegedly shot down a US Army Apache helicopter operating over the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest exchange marks a significant escalation in the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns about broader instability across the region.