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Iran has responded to a wave of American strikes by launching missile attacks across several Middle Eastern countries that host large contingents of United States troops, dramatically escalating regional tensions.
The United States maintains tens of thousands of personnel under the umbrella of its Central Command, known as CENTCOM, with major installations spread across the Gulf and parts of the Levant.
In Bahrain, home to Naval Support Activity Bahrain and headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, authorities said the fleet’s service centre was targeted by an Iranian missile strike. The deep-water port has long served as a strategic hub capable of hosting aircraft carriers and other major vessels, underscoring its operational significance.
In Iraq, explosions were reported near the US consulate in Arbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish region, according to AFP journalists. Kurdish security forces later said the US-led coalition intercepted multiple drones and missiles over the city. The powerful pro-Iran Kataeb Hezbollah group also threatened attacks on American bases, adding to instability in a country where US forces are already drawing down under a bilateral agreement.
Kuwait confirmed that its air defences engaged incoming missiles, while Italy’s foreign minister stated that an Iranian strike caused “significant damage” to the runway of a Kuwaiti air base hosting Italian personnel. The country hosts Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base, key nodes for US logistics and air operations.
In Qatar, authorities reported that Iranian missiles targeted their territory. Al Udeid Air Base, which houses forward elements of CENTCOM and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, has previously been targeted following US action against Iranian nuclear facilities.
Meanwhile, Syrian state media said four people were killed by an Iranian missile strike in the country’s south, as US forces prepare to complete their withdrawal. In the United Arab Emirates, officials said two rounds of Iranian missile attacks were intercepted, though debris from the first wave reportedly killed a civilian in Abu Dhabi.
The breadth of the strikes highlights the geographic spread of American military infrastructure in the region and signals a volatile new phase in US-Iran hostilities.
