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Iran launched missile and drone strikes against US military positions in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, according to the Iranian military.
The attacks marked the latest escalation in the growing confrontation between Tehran and Washington. Iran said the strikes formed part of the 31st phase of Operation Saeqeh and came in response to recent US attacks.
According to Iran’s army, missiles and attack drones targeted satellite communications systems, equipment warehouses and fighter jet hangars at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait. The military said the strikes damaged communications facilities and aircraft hangars.
In the UAE, Iranian forces reportedly targeted US troop positions and radar systems at Al Minhad Air Base.
Meanwhile, Kuwait said Iranian missile and drone attacks represented a direct threat to its security and stability.
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the overnight strikes. Officials described the attacks as a serious breach of international law and a threat to citizens and residents.
Kuwaiti air defences responded to incoming missile and drone threats, according to the country’s armed forces. Authorities said reported explosions were linked to air defence systems intercepting hostile targets.
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Iranian state media, meanwhile, said US bases in Kuwait were targeted as part of Tehran’s retaliation for American military operations.
The latest attacks have increased pressure on Gulf states caught between Washington and Tehran. Several countries in the region host US military forces and strategic installations.
Tensions have also intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari claimed that additional naval mines had been deployed along routes south of the strategic waterway.
However, the number of mines allegedly placed during the latest operation remains unclear.
Zolfaghari also mocked US claims that the waterway was under American control. He ridiculed President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the Strait of Hormuz could be renamed “Trump Strait.”
Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected Washington’s claims of full control over the passage. Tehran has also warned that the strait cannot fully reopen without its consent.
The United States, in contrast, has said its forces cleared maritime routes and dismissed reports of vessels striking mines as misinformation.
Despite the continuing military confrontation, US forces escorted 40 commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to reports.
The vessels were carrying about 18 million barrels of oil, marking a wartime high for the US escort operation.
US forces also struck Iranian military targets around the waterway. Officials said the attacks targeted air defence systems, radar installations, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.
Before the conflict, around 20 million barrels of oil passed through the strait each day. Consequently, any prolonged disruption could have major consequences for global energy markets.
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that American forces now controlled the strategic waterway. Tehran rejected the claim and accused Washington of attempting to manipulate oil markets.
Iranian state media reported that a Navy serviceman was killed during recent US attacks in Khuzestan province.
The serviceman was identified as Amirhossein Salimzadeh. IRNA said he was killed while on duty during US attacks on September 1.
Iranian Health Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour separately reported at least 18 deaths and 142 injuries from US airstrikes between August 30 and September 2.
The reported casualties included people in Sirik and Khuzestan, as well as members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Force and Basij.
Iranian authorities also said dozens of people were injured at a wedding gathering in Sirik.
Separately, the Iranian Red Crescent Society has called for an International Criminal Court investigation into a US missile strike that allegedly hit a wedding gathering in the southern town of Kuhestak.
Despite intensifying US economic pressure, Iran reportedly received more than $1 billion in oil-related foreign currency during the first 11 days of the period ending September 2.
Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency said the funds were added to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
The additional revenue could strengthen the Central Bank’s ability to meet foreign currency requirements. Moreover, Iranian oil sales during the first five months of the 2026-27 fiscal year reportedly generated more than 80% of the oil income projected in the national budget.
Earlier figures from Iran’s Oil Ministry showed that $7.5 billion in foreign currency from oil sales had been transferred to the Central Bank during the first four months of the fiscal year.
The latest escalation comes as President Donald Trump reportedly considers whether to declare the war with Iran over.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, Trump has discussed the possibility with senior advisers. The US president reportedly believes continued economic pressure could eventually force Tehran to dismantle its nuclear programme or face deeper economic collapse.
However, the Pentagon is extending military deployments in the Middle East. Reports indicate that around 50,000 US troops and 19 warships remain in the region.
Therefore, the military buildup suggests that Washington is preparing for the possibility of a prolonged confrontation despite discussions about ending the war.
Iran, meanwhile, has vowed to continue responding to US military operations.
The escalating confrontation around the Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern for global energy supplies. Any sustained disruption could affect oil shipments, regional security and international markets.
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