A significant escalation, Iran has launched missile strikes on at least four U.S. military bases across the Middle East under Operation Bashrat al-Fath (“Annunciation of Victory”). The Iranian government confirmed the operation as retaliation for the recent U.S. airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.
Key targets included the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, one of the largest American installations in the region, and a U.S. military site in Iraq, with unverified reports pointing toward possible activity near Kuwait and Bahrain. No casualties have been reported so far, as most missiles were intercepted or landed in isolated areas.
Iranian state media said the operation was “precise and limited,” aimed at demonstrating Iran’s readiness to defend its sovereignty. Prior warnings were reportedly issued to avoid civilian harm, and Gulf nations including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE responded by temporarily closing their airspace.
In Washington, the Pentagon acknowledged the attacks and said American forces are “on high alert.” Diplomats in the region are calling for urgent de-escalation, fearing that missteps could ignite a wider conflict involving multiple nations.
Qatar condemned the violation of its territory, while Saudi Arabia criticized Iran’s actions as “reckless.” Iran, however, insists that the strikes were a proportional response to external aggression.