Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan on Thursday, escalating tensions as the United States conducted fresh assaults across multiple Iranian cities. This came after President Donald Trump warned Tehran would face consequences for stalled negotiations.
Strikes on Gulf Nations
Kuwait confirmed it was addressing aerial threats, with its army stating on social media that air defense systems were intercepting hostile targets. The country briefly shut its airspace and diverted flights, though normal operations resumed shortly after, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
In Bahrain, the interior ministry reported that an 11-year-old girl was injured and several homes were damaged in Hamad City and the capital Manama due to shrapnel from intercepted Iranian drones. Authorities activated air raid sirens and urged residents to seek shelter.
Missiles at Jordan Base
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it had fired ballistic missiles at a US command center in Jordan, specifically targeting the Al-Azraq Air Base. State media reported that Jordanian air defenses intercepted and shot down 20 missiles. The Guards claimed the operation destroyed the base and numerous aircraft.
Escalating Conflict
The strikes mark the third round of back-and-forth attacks this week, testing a fragile two-month ceasefire. On Monday, Iran and Israel targeted each other. The US struck Iranian sites on Wednesday in retaliation for the downing of an American helicopter. Tehran responded by targeting US assets in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
President Trump vowed on Wednesday to hit Iran “very hard” if a peace deal was not reached. Tehran claimed it had responded against US forces in the Strait of Hormuz, but the US military denied this. Iran declared the strait closed, threatening any vessels transiting the waterway.
Negotiations to end the conflict continue with mediator assistance, but Trump's repeated claims of an imminent deal have yet to materialize. The war, initiated by Israel and the US on February 28, has seen a largely held ceasefire for two months.
