Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday claimed it launched a joint missile and drone operation that destroyed eight US military infrastructures in Kuwait and Bahrain, calling the action a response to a second wave of US strikes on Iranian targets.
The claim came amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran following a series of military exchanges linked to attacks involving vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), the IRGC Public Relations department said its naval and aerospace forces carried out the operation between 2:00 am and 3:00 am local time, targeting the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Port Salman in Bahrain.
The IRGC described the strikes as a “decisive response” to recent US actions.
“Your zealous sons in the IRGC’s naval and air forces, during a joint missile and drone operation at 2-3 am today, Sunday, July 27, destroyed eight important infrastructures of the child-killing US army at the Ali al-Salem base in Kuwait and the Fifth Naval Fleet in Port Salman, Bahrain, by launching ballistic missiles and drones at them and decisively responded to the recent US aggression,” the statement said.
Iran warns of stronger response
The IRGC alleged that US forces had earlier attacked five Iranian coastal positions on Sunday, accusing Washington of violating a ceasefire agreement under the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides.
The force warned that any future attacks on Iran would receive a “crushing response”.
“According to the memorandum of understanding, Islamabad has arrangements to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz with the Islamic Republic, and from now on, violating ships will be dealt with more forcefully than in the past, and any potential enemy aggression, under any pretext, even if the aggressions are against minor targets, as happened last night and tonight, will have a crushing response,” the statement added, as quoted by IRIB.
CENTCOM confirms new strikes
The latest escalation followed a statement by US Central Command (CENTCOM), which said American forces carried out additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran on June 27 under the direction of US President Donald Trump.
CENTCOM said the action came after Iran allegedly failed to uphold the ceasefire and launched a one-way drone attack that struck the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku near the Strait of Hormuz.
“U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted additional strikes against multiple targets in Iran, June 27, at the Commander in Chief’s direction,” the statement read.
“After yesterday’s U.S. strikes in response to the Iranian attack on M/V Ever Lovely, Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit M/T Kiku this morning at 4:30 a.m. ET. The Panama-flagged tanker was transiting near the Strait of Hormuz with more than two-million barrels of crude oil,” it added.
CENTCOM said US aircraft targeted Iranian military surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defence sites, drone storage facilities and mine-laying capabilities.
Kuwait and Bahrain activate alerts
Following reports of the Iranian strikes, Kuwait’s Army General Staff Headquarters said its air defence systems were intercepting “hostile missile and drone attacks”.
It advised residents that explosion sounds were linked to air defence interceptions and urged the public to follow official safety instructions.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior also announced that warning sirens had been activated and asked citizens and residents to remain calm, move to the nearest safe location and follow official updates.
The developments mark the second consecutive day of US strikes on Iranian targets after alleged attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM had earlier said US forces carried out strikes on June 26 after the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely was hit by a one-way attack drone launched by Iranian forces while exiting the Strait of Hormuz near the Omani coast.
“U.S. aircraft struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations and coastal radar sites after Iran hit M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 with a one-way attack drone,” CENTCOM said in its earlier statement.