Escalation in the Gulf: Iran attacks US targets in Kuwait and Bahrain, US retaliates with new strikes

Tensions between the "US" and "Iran" in the Persian Gulf region have entered a dangerous new phase. In the early hours of Sunday, the "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps" (IRGC) announced that its naval and aerospace forces had carried out joint missile and drone attacks against American military facilities in "Kuwait" and "Bahrain". The operation is presented as a direct response to overnight US strikes on Iranian targets.

In an official statement broadcast on Iranian television "Press TV", the IRGC states that "the violation of the ceasefire is in contradiction with Clause 1 of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding and will lead to the total termination of all diplomatic processes". With this wording, Tehran clearly signals that it views the latest US actions as a breach of agreed frameworks and is prepared to terminate current diplomatic channels.

Parallel to this, the "Kuwaiti Army" reported that the country had been subjected to an attack by "hostile" missiles and drones. "The Kuwaiti Air Defense is currently repelling hostile missile and drone attacks. We urge everyone to follow the safety and security instructions issued by the relevant authorities," the Kuwaiti armed forces warned in a post on X.

Air raid sirens also sounded during the night in "Bahrain", where a large American naval base is located. The kingdom's Ministry of Interior urged residents to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place". Despite the alarming situation, according to information from a US official who requested anonymity, "there are no reports of casualties among Americans, nor of serious consequences or damage to American facilities" in the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain.

The escalation comes hours after the "US" carried out new airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure targets. American President "Donald Trump" announced in a post on the social network Truth Social that the strikes were aimed at missile and drone warehouses, as well as radar stations along the Iranian coast. In this way, Washington is attempting to reduce Iran's ability to carry out missile and drone attacks in the region.

Trump also used an unusually sharp tone, warning of a possible wider military operation: "A time may come when we will no longer be able to be reasonable and will be forced to finish with military means what we started so successfully. If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" These words are perceived as a signal that the White House is ready to move from limited strikes to much larger-scale actions if it deems it necessary.

The "Central Command" of the US armed forces clarified that the latest strikes affected 10 Iranian military targets near the "Strait of Hormuz" – a strategic maritime passage through which a significant portion of the world's oil exports passes. According to the American side, the targets include missile and drone warehouses, as well as key radar systems used for surveillance and protection of the coastline.

Iran, for its part, is not remaining passive. On Saturday, Tehran had already undertaken an attack with unmanned aerial vehicles against "Bahrain", and on the same day, a ship in the Strait of Hormuz was hit by an "unidentified projectile". According to initial assessments, the incident is likely linked to an Iranian attempt to demonstrate an ability to influence maritime traffic in response to the American airstrikes.

The sum of these events – missile and drone attacks against American facilities in "Kuwait" and "Bahrain", successive US strikes on Iranian military targets, and sharp warnings from President Trump – outlines a dangerous spiral of escalation in the region. The violation of the ceasefire and the stated intention of the IRGC to terminate diplomatic processes further narrow the space for a peaceful settlement.

In this context, the risk of a wider conflict between the US and Iran that could affect the entire Persian Gulf region – from the "Strait of Hormuz" to military bases in "Kuwait" and "Bahrain" – seems higher than ever. As military operations continue, the fate of the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding" and diplomatic efforts remains in question, and the world is watching carefully to see if the two camps will find a way to stop the escalation before reaching the point Trump warns of – a moment when "reason" is replaced entirely by military force.