The Wall Street Journal reported Friday night, citing unnamed sources, that Bahrain and Kuwait conducted recent strikes inside Iran in retaliation for Iranian attacks on their territory. The UAE provided intelligence and defensive support, according to the report.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday night that Bahrain and Kuwait conducted strikes inside Iran earlier this month, targeting missile and drone storage facilities, with the UAE providing intelligence and defensive air cover, according to unnamed sources. The report, if confirmed, would mark the first publicly acknowledged direct offensive action by Gulf Arab states against Iran.
The Zioneer first covered the report at 19:35 Jerusalem, initially reporting the secret strikes. Throughout the evening, as the reported the story, further details emerged: the strikes were carried out by fighter jets, targeted missile and drone storage sites, and the UAE provided intelligence and defensive support. The report follows earlier confirmed Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait (The Zioneer, July 21) and UAE condemnation of those attacks (July 15). The Zioneer also reported on July 13 that Gulf states had joined strikes on Iran with Qatar's authorization.
As The Zioneer has reported over the past weeks, the Iran-Gulf confrontation has escalated dramatically, with Iran striking Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan in June and July, and the US conducting strikes on Iranian air defense systems. The Gulf states have gradually moved from defensive postures to more active roles, including direct participation in strikes.
The strikes have not been independently confirmed by officials in the Gulf states or Iran. The extent of damage to the targeted facilities and Iran's potential response remain unverified.
9 developments
- DevelopingIran strikes Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan in retaliation for US raids
- DevelopingUAE condemns renewed Iranian strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait
- DevelopingWSJ: Iran told Saudi Arabia, Oman it plans 'significant' strike on UAE
- DevelopingIran accuses Bahrain and Kuwait of taking part in attacks, threatens reprisal
Source and signal
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