Iran strikes US-linked sites in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain

2026-03-26 - 12:00

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced Thursday that it had carried out a new round of drone strikes against US-affiliated military and logistical installations across three Gulf states. According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the operation targeted predetermined locations including the Arifjan base in Kuwait, Al-Kharj in Saudi Arabia, and Sheikh Isa base in Bahrain. The IRGC described the attack as retaliation for strikes on the southwestern Iranian city of Khorramshahr. Targets and objectives The IRGC’s statement claimed that the operation successfully struck US defense logistics hubs, fuel storage facilities, MQ-9 drone hangars, and satellite communication systems. The attacks were executed using loitering munitions, according to the statement, which added that additional waves of strikes are ongoing. The operation was designated as the 82nd wave of the “True Promise 4” campaign, reflecting the sustained nature of Iran’s retaliation efforts. A widening regional conflict The strikes mark the latest escalation in a conflict that has engulfed the Middle East since February 28, when the United States and Israel launched a joint air offensive against Iran. That campaign has claimed over 1,340 lives, including Iran’s then‐supreme leader. Tehran has since retaliated with repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting American military assets, causing casualties and infrastructure damage while disrupting global aviation and energy markets. Türkiye’s call for restraint As the conflict continues to expand across the Gulf, Türkiye has maintained its position as a voice for de‐escalation and diplomacy. Ankara has repeatedly warned that the cycle of strikes and counter‐strikes threatens to destabilize the entire region, with consequences that will be felt far beyond the Middle East. Turkish officials have emphasized that only a negotiated settlement can halt the bloodshed and protect the sovereignty of all nations in the region, urging all parties to prioritize dialogue over further military action.