US Strikes Qeshm Island as Missiles Hit Kuwait, Bahrain Bases
Gulf populations caught in exchange as US targets Iran while Tehran hits American bases in Kuwait and Bahrain
Missiles over the Gulf
Iran fired missiles and drones at United States military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain on Tuesday, escalating tensions across the Gulf region. The attacks came amid heightened Middle East hostilities and directly targeted installations housing American forces.
US Central Command confirmed the strikes, which hit facilities in both Gulf states. No casualties have been officially confirmed from the Iranian attack, though the Pentagon is still assessing the damage.
American retaliation
The United States military responded by striking Iran’s Qeshm Island, a sparsely populated island in the Strait of Hormuz. Pentagon officials claimed the action was in “self-defence” following Iran’s earlier attacks.
Despite the exchange of fire, US officials maintained that the US-Iran ceasefire remains in effect. The statement drew scepticism given the nature and location of the strikes.
Civilians caught in the middle
The escalating exchange places Gulf populations squarely in the path of regional tensions. Residents of Kuwait and Bahrain have experienced missile strikes in close proximity to civilian areas, while those on Qeshm Island now face the consequences of American retaliation.
The ceasefire claim is difficult to reconcile with active strikes on sovereign territory and allied bases. If a ceasefire holds, attacks should cease, yet both Washington and Tehran continue to exchange fire. The narrative that the ceasefire remains intact does not match the reality experienced by ordinary people in the region.
