Bahrain and Kuwait sent fighter jets to attack military targets inside Iran in response to recent strikes on their territories, an American outlet reported on Friday.
The operations targeted Iranian drone and missile-storage depots. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) assisted the mission by offering intelligence and defensive air cover to both nations, the report claimed.
The military action marks an expansion of the regional conflict. Bahrain and Kuwait have faced severe Iranian strikes in recent weeks amidst escalating fighting. While both countries possess smaller military capabilities compared to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Bahrain has increased investment in its defence sector since establishing diplomatic ties with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords.
Iran has focused its attacks on smaller Gulf states while avoiding direct strikes on larger neighbours like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Geographical positioning leaves both Kuwait and Bahrain vulnerable due to their heavy reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports.
Bahrain is an island state connected to the mainland via a single causeway to Saudi Arabia. Kuwait sits at the northern tip of the Strait of Hormuz, bordering Iraq. Regional officials state that Kuwait faces incoming attacks from both Iranian forces and Tehran-aligned Iraqi militias.
Earlier this week, the foreign ministry of Kuwait confirmed that Iranian strikes hit a power plant and a water desalination facility. Analysts warn that large-scale targeting of desalination infrastructure could trigger a regional humanitarian crisis.
The involvement of Kuwait and Bahrain comes after reports in Western media claimed that UAE and Saudi Arabia conducted strikes against Iran during the opening phase of the war.
The UAE executed dozens of attacks after facing missile and drone strikes, earlier reports had claimed. Saudi Arabia later shifted toward supporting mediation efforts led by Pakistan, while granting the US expanded access to Saudi airspace and military bases.
A ceasefire extension signed in June has collapsed, leading to renewed Iranian strikes on Gulf nations and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The US military confirmed that Friday marked the 13th consecutive night of strikes against Iranian targets.
