Iran attacks US targets in Gulf states as conflict escalates

In early September 2026, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on US military targets in several Gulf countries, including Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. Kuwait's army confirmed it was under attack from missiles and drones, and reported a fire at a residential complex after a drone strike. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed US personnel were killed and drones destroyed in an attack on a Kuwaiti air base, while Iranian state media reported drone fire on a US base in Bahrain.

The attacks came after US strikes killed 12 people in Iran, according to reports. Iran also said it attacked targets in Jordan and Iraq. The escalation follows earlier claims by US President Donald Trump of 'total control' over the Strait of Hormuz. Yemen's Houthi rebels voiced support for Iran, while Peru cut diplomatic ties. The conflict has expanded beyond the initial focus on the Strait of Hormuz to include direct attacks on US forces across the region.