Iran has initiated a number of drone and missile attacks in the Middle East, targeting, or narrowly missing, territory within the territories of Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. It also represents a major escalation that is in response to American and Israeli military strikes into the heartland of the Islamic Republic, representing the most severe escalation in the region for several years.
The administration of Iran and its Revolutionary Guard said they are carrying out the attacks in response to American and Israeli raids on Iranian cities and military bases and purported attacks against leadership. They describe their efforts as acting out of “self-defense”. In its statements the administration has stressed its attacks were not intended to harm Arab states and its target has been U.S. Bases and assets within the Persian Gulf, yet their strikes have crossed over and threatened the airspace of countries that house American facilities.
Several Arab countries condemned Iran’s strikes as a violation of their national sovereignty and of international law, including Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, who released condemnations on their behalf. They have insisted they have the right to protect their borders and their people against strikes.
The United States has a presence of military bases and facilities throughout the Middle East, including in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iraq as well as other Gulf states, whose bases are being used to extend American military power into the region. The leaders of the Islamic Republic has stressed that these U.S. Military facilities and bases are valid targets during conflict with the United States.
During the ongoing clashes Kuwait accidentally shot down three F-15 U.S fighter jets involved in combat operations, while all six pilots ejected from their aircraft safely. Kuwait said in a statement that there was a friendly fire accident during a state of high alert and defensive operation due to enemy missile and drone attack.
