Kuwait and Bahrain on Saturday, 6 June jointly condemned renewed Iranian missile and drone attacks on their soil, describing the strikes as a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and a dangerous escalation that threatens the stability of the entire Gulf region. Both governments issued formal condemnations as the situation marked one of the most direct military confrontations between Iran and US-allied Gulf states in recent memory.

What Kuwait and Bahrain Said

Kuwait's Foreign Ministry, in a statement posted on X, called the attacks a 'flagrant violation' of Kuwait's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, as well as a breach of international law, the UN Charter, and Security Council Resolution 2817. It warned that the continued strikes represented a dangerous escalation at a time when international efforts are focused on preventing a wider regional conflict. 'The attacks cannot be justified or accepted under any pretext,' the ministry said.

Bahrain's Foreign Ministry issued a separate statement asserting that the attacks posed a direct threat to Gulf security and stability. It called on Iran to immediately halt its attacks, fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions, and respect the freedom of maritime navigation under international law.

The IRGC's Version of Events

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed it had targeted the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, framing the strikes as retaliation for earlier US military action against Qeshm Island and Sirik County in southern Iran. According to the IRGC's official outlet Sepah News, the sequence of events began at 1:30 a.m. local time (2200 GMT Friday) when four oil tankers, reportedly guided by the US military, attempted to exit the Strait of Hormuz without coordination with IRGC naval authorities and despite repeated warnings.

The IRGC said one of the tankers was targeted after warnings were ignored, and the remaining vessels turned back. It added that US drones subsequently struck communications towers on Qeshm Island and in Sirik County at 2:30 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Friday). In response, the IRGC's aerospace division fired ballistic missiles at the Ali Al Salem Air Base and what it described as key facilities at the US Fifth Fleet headquarters.

US Military Response

The US Central Command confirmed in a post on social platform X that US forces struck some of Iran's radar sites on Friday, corroborating part of the escalation timeline. Both Kuwait and Bahrain separately announced they had intercepted incoming missile and drone attacks before issuing their diplomatic condemnations.

Regional and Strategic Stakes

The confrontation marks a sharp escalation in the long-running tensions between Iran and US military assets stationed in the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of global oil supply passes — has emerged as a flashpoint, with Iran's threat to restrict navigation drawing urgent concern from energy markets and regional governments alike. This is not the first time the IRGC has targeted tankers or threatened the strait, but direct ballistic missile strikes on US-allied military bases represent a significant escalation in intensity. Gulf Cooperation Council members have historically been cautious about directly confronting Iran, making Saturday's coordinated condemnations from Kuwait and Bahrain diplomatically notable.

With both sides now having conducted strikes on each other's assets within a single overnight window, the risk of further escalation remains elevated. The international community, including the United Nations, is likely to face mounting pressure to intervene diplomatically before the situation widens into a broader regional conflict.