Bahrain, Kuwait Launch First Direct Strikes on Iran in Early July—WSJ

Bahrain and Kuwait secretly sent warplanes to strike military sites inside Iran in early July, marking their first direct retaliation against Tehran, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The strikes targeted drone- and missile-storage depots and other military sites, while the United Arab Emirates provided intelligence and defensive air cover, according to the report. Iran has repeatedly targeted Bahrain and Kuwait, two Persian Gulf states that host US military bases.

The Iranian regime has been under pressure from regional allies and its own people, who are growing increasingly frustrated with economic hardships, corruption, and lack of basic freedoms. The strikes by Bahrain and Kuwait mark a significant escalation in the region's ongoing tensions and highlight the complexities of the conflict. The international community is closely watching the developments in the Middle East, where multiple conflicts are unfolding simultaneously.

A meeting at Ali Khamenei's office in February was focused on preparations to manage future protests as well as responding to what officials believed was an imminent US-Israeli attack, according to Noor News, a security-linked media outlet. The report, published on Friday, followed recent remarks by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said the US-Israeli attack that killed Khamenei and several senior military commanders did not occur during a full meeting of Iran's Defense Council. Instead, Araghchi said, a subordinate committee of the council, chaired by the council's secretary, was meeting at the time.

According to Noor News, the committee was chaired by Ali Shamkhani and was discussing the implementation of a comprehensive plan to organize resources, personnel, structures, and equipment to manage future protests, while also assessing what participants believed was an imminent US-Israeli attack on Iran. The protest management plan, Noor News wrote, gained urgency after nationwide protests in January 2026, which saw hundreds of thousands of Iranians take to the streets to denounce corruption, economic hardship, and human rights abuses.

The January protests were triggered by soaring prices, a collapsing currency, and deep public anger toward the Islamic Republic. What began as an economic protest quickly evolved into a nationwide political crisis, prompting one of the most intense crackdowns in the Islamic Republic's history. Authorities responded with internet shutdowns, mass arrests, and a violent crackdown, killing over 36,000 Iranians during the nationwide crackdown on January 8 and 9, according to classified government documents and other evidence reviewed by Iran International.

The strike began while the committee was in session, killing Shamkhani and several senior military commanders, according to Noor News. The outlet said the meeting was intended to prepare for what participants believed would be simultaneous external military action and internal unrest. This development highlights the regime's ongoing struggle to control the narrative and assert its authority in the face of mounting popular discontent.

As tensions in the region continue to escalate, the international community is closely watching the situation for signs of further conflict. The Iranian regime has been a longstanding ally of the Islamic State (ISIS) and other extremist groups, and there are ongoing fears that the regime's collapse could lead to widespread instability and potentially even conflict.

Kuwaiti authorities have also reported that hostile drones struck the Abdali border crossing with Iraq, causing material damage but no casualties. The military later reported intercepting additional drones. The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency attributed two attacks near the crossing to Iran-allied armed groups, saying a border terminal and command building were targeted in retaliation for a reported US strike near Iran's Shalamcheh crossing.

Iran has nearly $100 billion in assets frozen abroad and beyond Tehran's control, though only part of that sum is directly held by the United States or clearly within its legal reach. The threat of seizure adds an economic dimension to Washington's military pressure as mediation efforts have shown fresh signs of collapse.

The Biden administration had proposed a new deal aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement, but the talks stalled in part due to disputes over sanctions relief and Iranian nuclear development. Iranian officials have said they cannot trust the United States to honor its commitments, pointing to the US withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and subsequent sanctions.

The escalation in the region comes as the United States and Iran are increasingly at odds. In his latest address, US President Donald Trump expanded the confrontation beyond the battlefield, warning that Iranian funds under US control would be used to compensate victims of attacks on commercial shipping.

The US move was condemned by Iranian leaders, who continued to frame disruption to Persian Gulf shipping as part of their broader deterrence strategy. In response to Trump's warning, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US administration of ignoring realities on the ground and instead focusing on the 2028 presidential election.

Last year, trade between Iran and all of its Arab neighbors except Iraq effectively came to a halt. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz appears to have dealt far greater damage to its own trade with China than to Beijing's commerce with the rest of the Persian Gulf. China remains the only major buyer of sanctioned Iranian crude and was by far Iran's most important commercial partner in 2025.

Kuwait's Foreign Minister, Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, has condemned the US move, saying it would be an attack on Iran's sovereignty and could lead to further instability in the region.

The international community is increasingly concerned about the escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly in the wake of the US decision to expand the military operation against Iran. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for calm and restraint in the region, emphasizing the need to prioritize diplomacy.

In response to the US move, Iranian officials have warned that Tehran will take measures to protect its interests, which it believes include the right to defend itself against any attack. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has said that the country will not hesitate to strike US bases and assets on the territory of neighboring states if they participate in the campaign.

The regional tensions are a stark reminder of the complexities of the conflict and raise questions about the prospects for a resolution. The international community is increasingly divided on the issue, with some countries calling for a diplomatic approach and others advocating for a more robust military response.

The conflict has already had significant humanitarian consequences, particularly for the people of Yemen, where thousands have died and millions displaced due to Saudi airstrikes. The ongoing conflict has also had a devastating impact on regional trade and economies, with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz exacerbating global oil supply bottlenecks.