Iran says it has launched missile and drone strikes against US military positions in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, escalating an already dangerous confrontation across the Gulf.
The strikes came after Iranian authorities blamed Washington for a missile attack on a wedding in the coastal town of Kuhestak that reportedly killed four people, including a child, and injured more than 50 others.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have vowed retaliation, while US officials say the reported wedding strike is being investigated.
Kuwait’s military said it intercepted missiles and drones launched from Iran, describing the attack as a serious violation of international law. Iran, meanwhile, claimed its forces had struck US assets at Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait using missiles and drones.
Iranian authorities also said another US military facility, Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, had been targeted. The UAE, however, did not report such an attack.
The latest developments add another dangerous layer to a conflict that has already disrupted security across the Middle East and placed renewed attention on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes.
Washington questions Iran’s account of wedding attack
US Vice President JD Vance said Washington was investigating the reports surrounding the wedding attack but expressed skepticism about information coming from Iranian state media.
US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins also rejected the suggestion that American forces deliberately target civilians, saying the US military does not target civilians.
Iranian officials strongly dispute Washington’s position.
Revolutionary Guards chief Ahmad Vahidi said the deaths would not go unanswered, promising that those responsible for the reported attack would face consequences.
The competing claims have made it difficult to establish an independent picture of exactly what happened at the wedding site and who was responsible.
Fighting continues across the region
The latest confrontation follows a series of US attacks on Iranian targets that Iranian officials say killed at least 19 people between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Iranian media also reported the deaths of six members of its naval forces in US attacks this week, although it remains unclear whether those casualties were included in the previously reported death toll.
Iran has responded with attacks that it says targeted US military personnel and facilities across several locations, including Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq’s Kurdistan region.
US Vice President Vance has avoided describing the current situation as a full-scale war, saying major combat operations were limited to an earlier period of the conflict.
Iranian security officials, however, have warned that Tehran has adopted a new strategy that could significantly intensify the confrontation.
Israel warns it is ready to respond
The crisis is also keeping Israel on high alert.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran’s leadership is under severe pressure and claimed the country’s government is struggling to survive.
At the same time, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would respond forcefully if Iran launches attacks against it during the upcoming Jewish holiday period.
The warnings come as Washington also threatens to increase economic pressure on Tehran by expanding sanctions against countries and businesses that continue trading with Iran.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright has described the proposed measures as a maximum-pressure campaign aimed at further restricting Iran’s economy.
Ordinary people are paying the price
Behind the military statements, threats and political calculations are ordinary families caught in the middle.
In Iran, residents have expressed fear and frustration as the fighting continues.
Hossein Moazami, a self-employed Iranian, described the situation as deeply distressing and said he hoped both sides would return to negotiations.
His concern reflects a reality that is often lost beneath the headlines: while governments talk about military strength and strategic victories, civilians are the ones living with the consequences.
The reported wedding attack has added another painful dimension to an already devastating conflict. Images and videos shared by Iranian state-linked sources showed damage and debris at what was described as the wedding location, with people heard crying and screaming.
Ali Mallahi, the bride’s father, described the incident as deeply saddening and said he was grateful that the number of casualties was not higher.
A conflict with consequences far beyond Iran
The crisis is no longer confined to the battlefield.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a major concern for global energy markets, while attacks involving US and Iranian forces across the Gulf could increase pressure on shipping, fuel prices, regional security and international trade.
Every new missile launch or military threat raises the risk of further escalation.
For now, Washington, Tehran and Jerusalem continue to send sharply different messages about the state of the conflict. What remains clear is that the possibility of another major escalation is still hanging over the region.
