Iran claims strikes on 85 targets, including US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility for a large-scale missile and drone operation targeting 85 locations, including U.S. military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait, in what Tehran described as retaliation for alleged American violations of a ceasefire framework and the Islamabad agreement.

According to a statement released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the coordinated operation involved both naval and aerospace forces and struck multiple strategic sites across the Gulf region.

Among the claimed targets were the headquarters of the United States Fifth Fleet in Manama and the Ali Al Salem Air Base, one of the key facilities used by U.S. forces in the region.

Iranian military officials said the strikes were launched in response to what they described as U.S. violations of the ceasefire arrangement and the Islamabad agreement. Tehran also accused Washington of carrying out airstrikes earlier the same day against coastal areas and non-military locations in Iran’s Hormozgan Province and Mahshahr, saying the latest operation was a direct retaliatory measure.

The IRGC described the attacks as an “initial response,” warning that Iran reserves the right to defend its sovereignty and national security against any future military action.

The statement also accused the United States of attempting to overshadow the funeral ceremonies of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, by launching airstrikes during a period of national mourning. Iranian officials said such actions would not weaken public resolve or the country’s military response.

Despite the sweeping claims, there was no immediate official confirmation from the United States, Bahrain, or Kuwait regarding the reported attacks. Independent verification of the strikes, including the extent of any damage or casualties, was not immediately available.

Military analysts say that if Iran’s claims are confirmed, the operation would represent one of the most significant direct confrontations between Iran and U.S. forces in the Gulf in recent years. Such an escalation could further destabilize an already volatile region and raise concerns over the security of international shipping and energy infrastructure.

The reported strikes come just hours after the United States announced that it had targeted more than 80 sites inside Iran and reinstated restrictions on Iranian oil exports, further intensifying tensions between the longtime adversaries.

With both sides exchanging military accusations and warnings, regional observers fear the crisis could enter an even more dangerous phase unless diplomatic efforts succeed in preventing further escalation.