The situation in the Middle East has sharply escalated following a statement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) regarding an attack on US military facilities. Iranian forces announced the launch of ballistic missiles and drones against the Ali Al-Salem US Army Air Base in Kuwait. In response to these actions, US President Donald Trump issued a stern statement, threatening Tehran with the total destruction of the state.
Strikes on Kuwait and Bahrain
According to information from Middle East Eye and Anadolu, Iranian military forces did not limit themselves to a single target. The IRGC statement also mentions attacks on the US Fifth Fleet, based in Port Salman (the capital of Bahrain, Manama). However, at this time, there is no official confirmation of missile hits on facilities in Bahrain from independent sources or the US side.
In Kuwait, the situation is developing dynamically. Local military officials confirmed the operation of air defense systems responding to "hostile missile threats and drone threats." Authorities in the country have urged citizens to follow safety rules and remain calm.
Washington's Response: From Retaliation to Existential Threat
Iranian officials explained their actions as a response to a recent US attack, during which five Iranian coastal facilities were struck. This escalation is a continuation of a conflict that began with Tehran's attack on a civilian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, to which Washington responded with strikes on military targets in the same region.
US President Donald Trump reacted to the events on his social network, Truth Social. In his post, he warned that US patience is not limitless. The country's leader stated that a moment may come when the US will be "forced to finish the job by military means." Trump directly threatens that if this scenario is realized, "the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist."
Context of the Conflict
Despite recent attempts at diplomatic resolution, including the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 18 to cease hostilities and open the Strait of Hormuz, tensions in the region continue to rise. The UN previously suspended the escort of ships through the Strait of Hormuz following an attack on a civilian cargo ship, which further exacerbated the situation in this strategically vital waterway.