Iran has carried out coordinated missile and aerial attacks on United States military installations in Jordan and Bahrain, marking a sharp escalation in already fragile tensions across the Middle East.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the strikes on Wednesday, saying they targeted US-linked facilities in response to recent American military operations against Iran. Tehran also issued a warning to Gulf countries, insisting they must not allow their territories to be used to support US or Israeli military actions against the Islamic Republic.
Explosions were reported in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, where witnesses said several loud blasts were heard. Bahraini authorities said their air defence systems intercepted a number of incoming projectiles, preventing damage or casualties.
Jordan’s military similarly confirmed that it intercepted multiple missiles, adding that five were shot down before reaching their targets. Officials said there were no reports of injuries or destruction on the ground.
In Kuwait, military authorities said air defence systems were activated in response to unidentified hostile aerial threats, as regional security alerts intensified.
Iran said the strikes included long-range missile attacks on US positions in Jordan, while additional aerial operations were carried out in Bahrain. The IRGC described the actions as part of a wider response to recent US strikes on Iranian military assets.
Washington had earlier confirmed that its forces conducted operations targeting Iranian air defence systems, radar installations, and command centres near the Strait of Hormuz. The US military said the strikes were carried out under US Central Command (CENTCOM) and were intended to weaken Iran’s operational capabilities following the downing of an American Apache helicopter.
Iranian officials, however, vowed retaliation. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran would not ignore any attack, warning that its military response would continue as long as provocations persisted.
The Iranian foreign ministry also urged Gulf states to prevent their territories from being used for hostile operations, describing such involvement as a “legal and moral responsibility” and warning of consequences for countries that fail to comply.
The escalation has triggered concern among global powers. Russia called for immediate restraint from both sides, describing the renewed fighting as deeply alarming, while China urged all parties to avoid further escalation and return to diplomatic engagement.
The renewed violence comes amid an already unstable ceasefire environment in the region, where previous attempts to reduce hostilities have repeatedly broken down.
US President Donald Trump had recently suggested that negotiations to end the conflict were nearing completion, but the latest exchange of strikes has cast fresh doubt on any imminent diplomatic breakthrough.
The conflict has also raised concerns over global energy security, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, a critical passage for international oil shipments that has become increasingly militarised during the crisis.
Oil prices saw modest gains following the attacks as markets reacted to fears of wider disruption.
Meanwhile, ongoing clashes involving Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon continue to add another layer of instability to the broader regional conflict, despite intermittent ceasefire efforts.
The latest developments underline the growing risk of a wider confrontation in the Middle East, as diplomatic efforts struggle to keep pace with rapidly escalating military actions.
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