Iran Launches Missile and Drone Strikes on US Bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan

Targets and Regional Impact

The IRGC claimed it attacked U.S. military equipment, petroleum, logistical, and command-and-control installations of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, as well as a U.S. base in Kuwait. In Jordan, the Iranian army stated it targeted the Azraq air base for a second time. Jordanian authorities reported shooting down three incoming Iranian missiles, while the Kuwaiti army reported repelling “hostile” drone assaults using air defenses.

These attacks follow a period of escalating tension and a fragile ceasefire. The IRGC described the strikes as a reaction to American military actions and attempts to control the Strait of Hormuz. The group threatened to shut down other energy lines serving U.S. and partner interests if Washington continues to prevent oil and gas exports by controlling maritime passages, stating that regional energy exports will be “for everyone or for no one.”

U.S. Military Response and Blockade

The Iranian strikes coincided with a fourth consecutive night of U.S. military operations against Iran. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported a seven-hour wave of strikes involving fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels. These precision munitions targeted coastal defense systems, naval capabilities, and Iranian missile and drone sites to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian crews and commercial shipping.

For more on this story, see Iran Launches Missile and Drone Strikes on Qatar, UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait.

The military escalation follows President Donald Trump’s decision on Tuesday to reinstate a blockade of Iranian shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center stated the blockade covers all coastal areas, oil terminals, and ports. While neutral transit to non-Iranian destinations will not be impeded, any vessel suspected of entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to capture, diversion, or interception via force.

Economic Stakes and Policy Shifts

The conflict centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which one-fifth of the world’s natural gas and oil trade passes during peacetime. In a policy reversal, President Trump suggested the U.S. should be the “guardian of the strait of Hormuz” and stated the U.S. would demand a 20% tariff on all cargoes shipped through the passage. This contradicts previous administration stances, including a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that no country is allowed to charge tolls on international waterways under international law.

This follows our earlier report, Iran Launches Missile and Drone Attacks on Gulf States After U.S. Strikes.

The instability has already impacted global markets and shipping. On Monday, Brent crude oil rose 7.8% to $81.92 a barrel. Additionally, the UAE reported that two national tankers were targeted by Iranian cruise missiles in Omani territorial waters on Monday, resulting in one Indian crew member’s death and eight others wounded.

Political Context and Future Threats

The current hostilities follow the collapse of an interim deal signed in mid-June, which established a 60-day negotiation period regarding issues such as Iran’s nuclear program. That deal followed a war that began in February after U.S.-Israeli airstrikes assassinated Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

President Trump has threatened further escalation if Tehran does not negotiate. In a Fox News interview on Tuesday, Trump stated the U.S. would attack Iranian bridges and power plants next week, saying, “I’ll save the energy targets for last, but ultimately we’ll hit energy targets.”

Read also: Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes on U.S. Sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.

Legally, the administration is operating under a formal notification sent to Congress stating that hostilities against Iran resumed on July 7. This notification is viewed by the administration as opening a new 60-day window to utilize the military without congressional approval, a move that has been criticized by some Republicans and Democrats as a misinterpretation of the War Powers Act.

Summary of Key Military Actions

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