Iran launched new rounds of missiles and drones overnight at three of its regional neighbors in apparent retaliation for U.S. airstrikes from Tuesday.
The militaries of Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan all reported Wednesday that their countries’ air defenses had intercepted Iranian attacks. Reports suggest the attacks all targeted U.S. bases in the three countries.
Jordan’s military said it shot down five missiles launched from Iran targeting the country’s Azraq region, which resulted in extensive falling debris but no casualties. The U.S. maintains a heavy military presence at the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, located in Jordan’s Azraq region.
Bahrain’s military said it had intercepted an unspecified number of drones and missiles launched by Iran, in what it called a treacherous attack. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had announced earlier that it was targeting the U.S. Fifth Fleet located in Bahrain.
Kuwait’s Defense Ministry also confirmed it had intercepted “hostile aerial targets” early Wednesday. The country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later confirmed the attacks came from Iran and called them a “dangerous overreach that endangers the lives of civilians and the safety of vital and residential facilities.”
The Arab League issued a similar condemnation shortly after, with Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit arguing that Iran was seeking to escalate the conflict to serve its own interests.
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“Such an approach is wholly unacceptable and reflects an Iranian effort aimed at undermining Arab regional security while simultaneously exerting pressure on the international community,” he wrote in a statement.
The strikes, which began at 5 p.m. Eastern time, reportedly targeted Iranian air defenses and radar stations. State-affiliated media in Iran reported large explosions near the coastal cities of Bandar Abbas and Sirak, as well as the island of Qeshm.
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