Iran targeted American military positions in Bahrain and Kuwait overnight following fresh U.S. strikes, prompting renewed fears of wider instability in the Gulf.

Iran launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. military positions in Bahrain and Kuwait in the early hours of Sunday, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions following a second wave of U.S. attacks on Iranian military infrastructure.

Air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain for a second time on Sunday, while Kuwait said its air defences had intercepted what it described as “hostile missile and drone threats”. 

The attacks came hours after the U.S. military said it had carried out strikes on 10 Iranian sites, including missile and drone storage facilities, coastal radar positions and military communications infrastructure. 

Washington said the operation was in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed with Washington gave Tehran authority over passage through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that vessels it considered to be in violation would be dealt with “more forcefully”. 

It also warned the White House that any further military action would provoke a “crushing response” and could bring the peace process to a “complete halt”.

Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the latest US strikes as “brutal attacks” and accused Washington of violating the ceasefire framework outlined in the MoU. 

The ministry said the attacks demonstrated that the US did not honour its commitments and reaffirmed Iran’s intention to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The latest attacks drew swift condemnation from Gulf states.

Qatar strongly condemned the Iranian drone attacks on Bahrain, describing them as a “blatant violation” of the kingdom’s sovereignty and a “flagrant breach” of international law. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need to spare the region the consequences of “unjustified attacks”, calling for continued dialogue and diplomacy and urging all parties to build on the gains achieved under the memorandum of understanding in a way that strengthens regional and international security and stability. 

Doha also reaffirmed its full solidarity with Bahrain and its support for all measures the kingdom may take to preserve its sovereignty and security.

Kuwait condemned what it described as the “repeated heinous Iranian aggressions” against the country, calling the strikes a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty. 

Its foreign ministry said the attacks undermined regional and international efforts to de-escalate tensions and represented “a direct challenge to the international will supporting this path”. 

The ministry added that Kuwait reserved “its full right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, preserve its security and stability, and protect its people and the residents on its territory”.

Bahrain also condemned the missile and drone attacks as a “dangerous escalation”, saying they violated the kingdom’s sovereignty and undermined opportunities for regional stability. 

The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council and said Manama retained its legitimate right to defend its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity in accordance with international law.