A Secret Gulf Operation? Bahrain, Kuwait Carried Out First Iran Strikes With UAE Help: Report

A Secret Gulf Operation? Bahrain, Kuwait Carried Out First Iran Strikes With UAE Help: Report

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Last Updated: July 25, 2026, 06:15 IST

The two Gulf states had previously avoided direct confrontation with Tehran, unlike some other regional powers.

A billboard shows Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa shaking hands with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan. (AFP file photo)

Bahrain and Kuwait secretly carried out airstrikes on targets inside Iran earlier this month, marking their first known direct military action against Tehran, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The strikes targeted drone and missile storage sites as well as other military facilities, according to the report. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) provided intelligence on Iranian targets and defensive air cover during the operation, the report added.

Gulf States Respond To Iranian Attacks

The WSJ report said Bahrain and Kuwait, which have relatively small air forces equipped with US and European aircraft, decided to respond after facing repeated attacks from Iran during the escalating regional conflict.

The two Gulf states had previously avoided direct confrontation with Tehran, unlike some other regional powers. The report said countries such as Oman and Qatar have continued to maintain a more balanced approach between Iran and Western allies.

According to the report, Saudi Arabia had also joined the UAE in strikes against Iran at an earlier stage of the conflict but is now reassessing its position.

The reported involvement of Bahrain and Kuwait signals a broader expansion of the war, with both Gulf nations facing some of the heaviest Iranian attacks in recent weeks as renewed fighting between Tehran and Washington has begun.

Iran Targets US Assets In Gulf

On Friday, Iran said it carried out attacks against US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan in response to American strikes on Tehran.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have targeted a US military base in Bahrain, while Iranian state media also reported an attack on an Amazon data centre in the country. The claims have not been independently confirmed.

In Kuwait, Iran’s military said it launched drone attacks targeting US facilities, including Camp Udairi, Camp Doha and Camp Arifjan. The Revolutionary Guards also claimed to have struck Ali Al Salem Air Base, alleging damage to an ammunition depot and US casualties.

Additionally, Bahrain’s interior ministry said sirens sounded in the country on Saturday and urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations.

Tehran has maintained that any facility or base used by the US military for operations against Iran would be considered a legitimate target for retaliation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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First Published: July 25, 2026, 06:13 IST

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