DUBAI — Kuwait and Bahrain reportedly carried out joint airstrikes against military targets inside Iran earlier this month, marking the first known direct military action by the two Gulf nations against Tehran since the start of the 2026 Iran war.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter, Bahraini and Kuwaiti fighter jets targeted Iranian drone and missile storage depots, along with other military installations. The operation reportedly took place sometime after July 11.
Israeli military sources, who were briefed by their Emirati counterparts, said the participating aircraft landed safely at an airbase in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after completing the mission.
UAE Provided Intelligence and Defensive Air Cover
The report said the UAE supported the operation by providing targeting intelligence and defensive air cover for the Bahraini and Kuwaiti aircraft. The UAE had previously carried out its own strikes against Iranian targets earlier in the conflict, including an attack on an oil refinery on Lavan Island in April.
To reduce the risk of Iranian retaliatory attacks, Bahrain and Kuwait also repositioned part of their air forces. According to the report, fighter aircraft from Bahrain's Sheikh Isa Air Base and Kuwait's Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base and Ali Al-Salem Air Base were relocated to the UAE's Al Dhafra Air Base. Operational indications also suggested that some aircraft may have been dispersed to at least one additional Emirati airbase.
Strikes Follow Weeks of Iranian Attacks
The reported operation followed weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait. Both countries host major U.S. military facilities, including Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain and Ali Al-Salem Air Base and Ahmad Al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait.
Iranian attacks have also targeted civilian infrastructure. Earlier this week, Kuwait's Foreign Ministry said Iran struck a power plant and a water desalination facility. Bahraini authorities have previously reported attacks on Sheikh Isa Air Base, while Kuwait has also reported strikes targeting its international airport and other infrastructure.
According to the report, Bahrain and Kuwait launched the operation after concluding they could no longer continue absorbing repeated attacks without a direct military response. The reported targets included drone and missile storage depots believed to support those attacks.
Regional Military Involvement Expands
The reported participation of Bahrain and Kuwait would further broaden regional military involvement in the conflict. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were already involved during the early stages of the war, with the UAE taking a more active military role by conducting multiple strikes against Iranian targets.
Bahrain established diplomatic relations with Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords. Iran has carried out repeated attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait during the conflict, while largely avoiding direct attacks on Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Kuwait and Bahrain are considered particularly vulnerable because of their geography and their dependence on the Strait of Hormuz for energy exports and regional trade. Bahrain is an island nation connected to Saudi Arabia by a causeway, while Kuwait lies at the northern end of the Gulf and borders Iraq. Regional officials have also said Kuwait has faced attacks from both Iran and militia groups in Iraq allied with Tehran.
Conflict Continues to Escalate
The wider conflict has continued to intensify following the collapse of the ceasefire extension signed in June. Fighting has included Iranian drone and missile attacks on Gulf states and vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. and partner forces have conducted repeated airstrikes on Iranian military infrastructure, including command centers, drone storage facilities, coastal surveillance sites and other military targets.
The U.S. military said Friday marked the 13th consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets. Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump told Axios on Thursday that he was considering "a massive attack" on Iran.
No Official Confirmation
At the time of publication, the governments of Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE had not officially confirmed the reported fighter-jet operation.
Kuwait's ambassador denied any involvement in the reported strikes, while Bahrain had not issued a public statement. The Wall Street Journal report was based on unidentified sources familiar with the matter and did not provide details on the number of aircraft involved, the extent of damage, or the exact bases from which the aircraft operated.
The report therefore remains based on unnamed sources and has not been officially confirmed by the governments involved.
Source : WSJ
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