Tehran/Manama/Abu Dhabi – March 2, 2026 – Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday that it had carried out targeted attacks on multiple US military installations across the Gulf region, including the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain, the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. The claims come as part of Iran's ongoing retaliation against coordinated US-Israeli military operations that began on February 28, 2026, and resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In an official statement released by the IRGC, the elite force detailed the use of 26 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and five ballistic missiles in strikes against both fixed and mobile US military targets in Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and the Strait of Hormuz. Specifically, the IRGC asserted that:
Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan US Base was hit with a dozen UAVs, causing significant damage to infrastructure.
The US military command and control center at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE was targeted with six UAVs and five ballistic missiles.
Previously unaffected US Navy facilities in Bahrain, including elements of the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, were destroyed by six UAVs.
The IRGC described the operation as the 12th stage of "Operation True Promise-4," framing it as a direct response to the US-Israeli campaign that has targeted Iranian nuclear sites, missile facilities, air defenses, naval assets, and leadership compounds.
Supporting the IRGC's claims regarding Bahrain, satellite imagery obtained by Planet Labs and analyzed by The New York Times revealed extensive destruction at the US Navy’s largest regional base, the Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama. The images, dated before and after the strikes, showed multiple buildings completely destroyed or heavily damaged, including structures associated with command functions and support services. The New York Times reported that at least six US military facilities across the Middle East—including sites in Bahrain, Iraq, the UAE, and three in Kuwait—were struck between Saturday and Sunday, with damage to satellite communications equipment and other infrastructure confirmed through imagery and verified videos.
US officials have not fully confirmed the extent of the damage or casualties from these specific Iranian attacks, though earlier reports acknowledged three US service members killed and five seriously wounded at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait. Gulf states hosting US forces, including Bahrain, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and others, reported intercepting many incoming missiles and drones, with air defense systems activated across the region. Bahrain confirmed a missile attack on the service center of the Fifth Fleet, while the UAE's defense ministry described the strikes as a "blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law." Civilian casualties have been reported in some areas, including from falling debris in the UAE.
The broader conflict intensified following the US-Israeli strikes that killed Khamenei on February 28, along with other senior leaders and family members. Iranian state media confirmed his death on March 1, triggering nationwide mourning, a 40-day period of remembrance, and vows of severe retaliation. Iran has since launched waves of ballistic missiles and drones not only at US assets but also at Israel and energy-related sites in allied Gulf countries. The attacks have affected at least eight nations hosting US military presence or interests, prompting airspace closures, flight disruptions, and economic concerns over oil and gas supplies through the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump has maintained that the US-Israeli operations—named Operation Epic Fury—will continue "for as long as it takes" to neutralize Iran's nuclear and missile threats, proxy networks, and naval capabilities. Trump has urged Iranian forces to surrender and called for regime change, while warning of further escalation. US military officials described the initial strikes as "surgical and overwhelming," though they anticipate additional losses in what has been termed "major combat operations."
Iranian officials, including senior National Security Council figures, have reiterated that US bases in the region are legitimate targets as extensions of American territory, while insisting no intent exists to attack host nations directly. The IRGC has signaled sustained military action until the US and Israel face "definitive defeat."
The widening war has drawn international condemnation and calls for de-escalation, with a joint statement from the US, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE denouncing Iran's missile and drone barrages. Regional airspace remains volatile, and oil markets have shown sharp fluctuations amid fears of prolonged disruptions.
As the conflict enters its fifth day, military exchanges continue on multiple fronts, including reported Israeli responses to Hezbollah actions in Lebanon triggered by Khamenei's death. The situation underscores the high risk of a broader regional conflagration, with diplomats urging restraint to prevent further civilian suffering and economic fallout.
