WSJ: Bahrain, Kuwait secretly strike Iran in first direct retaliation

Bahrain and Kuwait secretly carried out airstrikes against targets inside Iran earlier this month, marking their first direct military retaliation against Tehran, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.

The strikes targeted drone and missile storage facilities and other military sites, according to the sources. The United Arab Emirates, which had also carried out multiple attacks against Iran earlier in the war, reportedly provided intelligence on targets and defensive air cover.

The reported strikes come as Iran has focused its attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which host US military bases. The two Gulf states have relatively small air forces equipped with US and European aircraft but reportedly decided they could no longer allow Tehran to attack them without responding.

The UAE has called for reduced regional tensions, including the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for Gulf oil exports. Its Foreign Ministry condemned attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait, saying it “stands in full solidarity with these states and reaffirms its support for all measures aimed at safeguarding their security and stability.”

By Sabina Mammadli