Bahrain and Kuwait strike Iran in unprecedented Gulf retaliation

Bahrain and Kuwait launched direct military strikes against military targets inside Iran in July 2026. These unprecedented actions followed missile and drone attacks, signaling a widening war and a major escalation between the Gulf nations and Tehran. This retaliation marks the first known direct attacks by both countries against Iran, creating serious implications for global oil markets. The operations involved the deployment of fighter jets to carry out the strikes in a sign of increasing regional instability.