DUBAI, July 8, 2026 — Iran’s army announced early Wednesday that it carried out drone attacks targeting U.S. forces at Bahrain’s Sheikh Isa Air Base, escalating a fresh round of tit-for-tat strikes between Tehran and Washington over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) separately claimed responsibility for broader missile and drone strikes on multiple U.S. military installations across Bahrain and Kuwait, asserting that it had destroyed or targeted dozens of American sites in retaliation for overnight U.S. airstrikes on Iranian targets in southern Iran.
Iran’s army stated that its drones struck “gathering centers of hostile U.S. forces” at the strategically important Sheikh Isa Air Base, which hosts significant U.S. military assets. The IRGC claimed its forces launched coordinated attacks on U.S. positions, including the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters at Bahrain’s Salman Port and bases in Kuwait such as Ali Al Salem Air Base. Iranian state media reported claims of hitting as many as 85 U.S. military sites in the two Gulf countries.
The IRGC framed the action as a direct response to what it called repeated U.S. violations of a fragile ceasefire agreement, warning that “all American bases in the region will be legitimate targets of military drones.”
Iran also claimed its forces shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone over southern Iran.
The Iranian moves followed U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) strikes on more than 80 targets in Iran, including sites on Qeshm Island, Sirik, and around Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province. Washington said the strikes were in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz earlier in the week, including strikes on tankers.
U.S. officials described the operation as targeting Iranian capabilities linked to threats against maritime traffic in the vital waterway.
Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain (for a second time on Wednesday) and Kuwait as the Iranian claims emerged. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry urged residents to move to the nearest safe place. Kuwait’s military reported confronting hostile drone and missile threats, with explosions heard that it attributed to interceptions by its air defenses.
No immediate independent confirmation of casualties or significant damage at the targeted U.S.-linked sites in Bahrain or Kuwait has been reported. Past similar incidents have often seen conflicting claims between Iranian assertions of successful strikes and limited verified impact from other sources.
The latest escalation occurs amid ongoing disputes over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. Both sides have accused each other of violating earlier understandings aimed at de-escalating the 2026 Iran conflict, including issues related to shipping routes, sanctions, and military activity in the region.
Sheikh Isa Air Base is a key facility in Bahrain, home to U.S. naval and air operations in the Gulf.
The situation remains fluid, with both Washington and Tehran issuing warnings of further consequences. International observers are monitoring closely for signs of wider regional spillover.
Al Jazeera and other outlets are providing live updates on the developing story.
This is a developing situation.
About The Author
