Kuwait and Bahrain Counter ‘Sinful Iranian Aggression’ as Attacks Resurge in the Gulf

Sirens echoed across Kuwait and Bahrain on Sunday morning as renewed Iranian attacks targeted neighboring Gulf states. The incidents marked another escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran and its regional adversaries.

In the early hours of Sunday, the Kuwaiti military took to X/Twitter to announce that air defenses had been activated in response to what they described as “sinful Iranian aggression.” They clarified that any explosions heard were a result of missile interceptions. In addition, the military urged civilians to adhere to security guidelines issued by local authorities to ensure their safety.

Bahrain’s Interior Ministry also confirmed the activation of sirens and advised citizens to remain calm while heading to the nearest shelter. This move came amid heightened concerns over the potential for further attacks in the region.

Later that day, a fire broke out at a power and desalination plant in Kuwait, marking the second such incident in two days. According to the Kuwaiti Ministry of Electricity and Water, the attack impacted a significant number of the facility’s electric generators. However, local firefighters managed to bring the fire under control and are continuing efforts to fully extinguish it.

The sirens and attacks come in the wake of the eighth night of US-Iran strikes over the weekend. These strikes were a direct response to an Iranian attack on a US military base in Jordan on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of two American service members.

Two US soldiers lost their lives, four others were injured, and one soldier remains missing following the Iranian strike. In a statement released on Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) emphasized that the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. They also aimed to swiftly punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces responsible for the attacks on American personnel in Jordan.

Iranian media outlets reported that the US military had targeted an area near the city of Hajiabad. Additionally, explosions were heard near Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, according to Iranian news outlet IRNA. The semi-official Tasnim news agency also claimed that the US had struck a location near Shadegan.