US strikes Iran, Tehran retaliates with missile and drone attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan

**U.S. Airstrikes on Iran Prompt Retaliatory Missile and Drone Attacks in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan**

*September 2 2024 – Gulf region*

The United States carried out airstrikes against Iranian military facilities on September 1, after which Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting locations in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. The escalation has resulted in property damage, several injuries and heightened regional tensions.

### U.S. strikes and Iranian casualties

U.S. Central Command said the September 1 operation hit Iranian air‑defence systems, radar sites, maritime assets, mine‑laying capabilities and communications facilities. Iranian state media reported that the strikes killed four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force in the western province of Kermanshah and three Basij paramilitary volunteers on Lavan Island in the Gulf. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also said that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which it attributed to “the urging of the U.S. military to transit via an illegal route.”

### Iranian retaliation

In the early hours of September 2, Iranian forces launched coordinated missile and drone attacks on several sites:

* **Kuwait** – The Kuwaiti Public Fire Force confirmed that a residential complex in the capital was struck by a drone, igniting a fire that was later contained. No injuries were reported. Kuwaiti armed forces said their air‑defence systems intercepted hostile projectiles, and the General Staff warned that any explosions heard were likely the result of those interceptions.

* **Bahrain** – The Bahrain Defence Force reported that its air‑defence systems shot down multiple Iranian aerial attacks. The ministry described the attacks as targeting civilians and said the weapons remained on high alert. The Bahrain Ministry of Interior activated emergency sirens on September 2 and urged residents to stay calm and follow official instructions.

* **Jordan** – Jordanian authorities confirmed that Iranian missiles and drones struck the country, though details on damage and casualties were not released. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks, calling them violations of sovereignty and international law, and urged an immediate halt to military operations.

Iran’s IRGC also claimed to have struck U.S. installations in Erbil, Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, destroying a maintenance centre, warehouses and a surveillance aerostat guidance system.

### Civilian casualties

The Iranian Red Crescent Society appealed to the International Criminal Court, alleging that a U.S. missile strike on a wedding ceremony in Kohestak, Hormozgan Province, on the night of September 1 killed four people, including a child, and wounded more than 50 others. The organization described the incident as a “massacre” and called for legal accountability.

In the southwestern province of Khuzestan, the state‑run IRNA news agency reported that a U.S. missile attack on three locations left seven people dead and eight injured.

### Maritime incidents

Two commercial tankers reported incidents in the Strait of Hormuz within the past 48 hours. The oil tanker *Burgan* logged a security incident and subsequently anchored near Jazirat Um Al Ghanam. Another tanker reported being struck by three unknown projectiles about 17 nautical miles east of Khasab, Oman. No casualties or environmental damage were reported, and investigations are ongoing.

Iranian officials have accused the United States of attempting to rebuild a “patchwork” radar network along the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the claim, stating that Iran does not control the strait and that its efforts constitute a “death spiral.”

### Regional diplomatic reactions

* **Israel** – Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel is prepared to respond “with great force” if attacked by Iran, noting that Iranian forces have been striking across the region while “except us.” He added that Israeli aircraft are ready for deployment.

* **Qatar** – The Qatari Foreign Ministry held Iran legally responsible for the attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, urging an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue.

* **United Nations** – Secretary‑General António Guterres called for renewed negotiations and emphasized the need for “

Article and image source: gulfnews.com