TEHRAN, Iran, June 28, 2026 — Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Sunday that it carried out a joint ballistic missile and drone operation targeting United States military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain, describing the action as a response to recent US strikes on Iranian positions.
According to a statement issued by the IRGC's Public Relations Department and broadcast by Iranian state media, the operation was conducted by the IRGC's naval and aerospace forces between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. local time on Sunday.
The IRGC claimed that the attack targeted Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet headquarters at Port Salman in Bahrain. Iranian officials stated that the operation destroyed eight US military infrastructures across the two facilities. The claims have not been independently verified.
Iran described the operation as a "decisive response" to what it called continued US aggression. The IRGC accused the United States of violating a 14-point ceasefire agreement outlined in the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which was intended to reduce regional hostilities and maintain stability in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the Iranian statement, US forces had carried out strikes on five Iranian coastal military positions earlier on Sunday, prompting the latest response.
The IRGC also referred to provisions within the MoU that it said authorize Iran to help regulate maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The statement warned that vessels violating agreed maritime arrangements could face stronger measures and added that any future military action against Iran would receive a firm response.
The latest exchange follows a series of US military operations announced by US Central Command (CENTCOM). On June 27, US forces conducted additional strikes against multiple Iranian military facilities under the direction of President Donald Trump. According to CENTCOM, the operation targeted surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities, and mine-laying capabilities.
US officials stated that the June 27 operation was launched in response to an Iranian one-way drone attack on the Panama-flagged tanker M/T Kiku, which was struck near the Strait of Hormuz at approximately 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The tanker was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil. CENTCOM said Iran had previously been given an opportunity to observe the ceasefire following an earlier incident but instead proceeded with the attack.
The escalation follows another US military operation conducted on June 26, when US Navy and Air Force aircraft struck 10 Iranian military targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz. According to CENTCOM, that operation was launched after an Iranian drone attack on the Singapore-flagged cargo ship M/V Ever Lovely on June 25 while the vessel was transiting along the Omani coast after exiting the strait.
Following Sunday's reported Iranian attack, Kuwaiti authorities stated that the country's air defense systems intercepted incoming missiles and drones. Kuwait's Army General Staff said residents might hear explosions caused by interception operations and urged the public to follow official safety guidance.
In Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior activated warning sirens and instructed citizens and residents to remain calm, move to safe locations, and monitor official government updates.
CENTCOM stated that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues despite the ongoing military exchanges and said US forces remain prepared to respond to any further developments. The command added that it continues coordinating efforts to ensure the security and freedom of navigation for commercial traffic through the strategically important waterway.
The reported Iranian operation marks the second consecutive day of military exchanges between the United States and Iran. Both sides have presented their own accounts of the recent events, while the security situation in and around the Strait of Hormuz remains fluid as regional tensions continue to rise.
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