Iran launches retaliatory strikes against Gulf bases as Trump warns escalation could intensify

Published on 09/07/2026 – 5:26 GMT+2

Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain and Kuwait overnight after Iran vowed to respond to renewed US strikes on the country.

Kuwait’s air defences were intercepting “hostile missile and drone attacks”, its military said on Thursday.

“The General Staff of the Army notes that any explosions heard are a result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks,” the Kuwait military said in a post on X, without specifying their origin.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) confirmed on Thursday they had struck US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to fresh American strikes, in a statement carried by state television IRIB.

The Guards said they struck “key infrastructure and facilities” at US bases in Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain with missiles and drones.

They also warned their responses would expand to other bases across the region if US attacks were repeated.

Trump warns situation will worsen if further shipping attacks occur

Trump had earlier warned that if Iran continues to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, “it will get much worse”, after ordering fresh strikes on the country following attacks on three ships in the critical waterway a day earlier.

Iran state media reported explosions in multiple locations along the southern Iranian coast after US Central Command announced a new series of strikes.

Warplanes were heard over Kish Island and explosions rocked the port cities of Bandar Abbas, Konarak and Chabahar, with parts of the latter losing electricity, Iran’s official news agency IRNA reported.

Prior to the latest strikes, Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was over, prompting mediators Pakistan and Qatar and the United Nations to call for de‑escalation.

Trump had said earlier in the day that the recent exchanges would not lead to “long‑term” military action and left the door open to further talks.

CENTCOM said the strikes were carried out to degrade Iranian forces’ ability “to threaten freedom of navigation” in the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas normally flows.

“The United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression against commercial shipping,” CENTCOM said on X.

Iran’s chief negotiator said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz would be opened only under “Iranian arrangements”.

“The United States still has not learned that bullying and breaking its promises no longer comes without consequences,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on X. “Let me be clear: If you strike, you will be struck.”

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