As the United States and Iran clash over control of the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf countries hosting U.S. military bases came under missile and drone attacks on the 9th local time.
According to the AP, air raid alerts were issued in Bahrain and Qatar that day, and a missile alert sounded in Kuwait. AFP reported that explosions were heard shortly after the air raid alert was issued in Bahrain.
Bahrain's Foreign Ministry urged on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "Citizens and residents should remain calm and stay in nearby safe places." Kuwait's Ministry of National Defense also said its air defense network was intercepting enemy missiles and drones.
No specific damage has been reported so far in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
The attack is believed to be the work of Iran. The United States carried out airstrikes on several sites in southern Iran on the 7th and followed up with additional strikes on the 8th. The U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Middle East, said on X, "Under orders from the commander in chief, we have launched additional strikes targeting Iran."
Iran warned immediately after the U.S. strikes that it would deliver a "deadly response," and the previous day, as U.S. strikes continued for a second day, it warned of retaliation, saying it would hold the United States accountable.
Iran's Nour News, citing a source on the 8th, said, "In addition to the integrated air defense network's engagement against hostile targets, the missile and drone units will launch a large-scale attack on U.S. bases in the Middle East within minutes."
Iran had earlier on the 7th also attacked U.S. bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.