Iran Army Confirms Missile, Drone Strikes on U.S. Bases in UAE and Kuwait

Iran’s military confirmed Thursday morning that it launched ballistic missiles and suicide drones against U.S. military bases in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, extending the confirmed scope of the strike campaign to a second Gulf host nation beyond what was reported earlier today.

What We Know

Iran’s army stated publicly that it launched missiles and suicide drones at U.S. military installations in the UAE and Kuwait, according to Middle East Eye, which cited the official Iranian military statement. The strikes were framed by Tehran as retaliation for prior U.S. bombardments.

AP News confirmed Iran struck Kuwait in retaliation for U.S. strikes, corroborating the Kuwait portion of Iran’s claim. Local sources cited by Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB said a U.S. base in Kuwait was struck and smoke was rising from the site, per the Jerusalem Post.

Neither the United States nor Kuwait had publicly confirmed the strikes as of the Jerusalem Post report. UAE authorities had not issued a statement as of publication.

The official Iranian army confirmation represents a step beyond the unverified claims reported earlier this morning. The addition of UAE facilities as a stated target is the primary new development, as earlier coverage covered Kuwait alone.

What We Don’t Know

Casualties, damage assessments, and the specific installations targeted have not been confirmed by U.S. Central Command, the UAE, or Kuwait. It is not known whether additional waves of strikes are ongoing or planned. The extent of Iranian commitment to UAE targets, as distinct from Kuwait, has not been independently verified by a non-Iranian source. This report is developing.

Context

The strikes follow a period of escalating military exchanges in the Gulf region. An earlier America Strikes report from this morning documented the initial unverified claims against Kuwait. Today’s official Iranian army confirmation and the identification of UAE bases as a second target represent the material advancement of that story.

The Gulf has seen sustained military pressure this week. Sea mines attributed to the IRGC disabled two commercial tankers near the Strait of Hormuz earlier today, underscoring the breadth of Iranian operations across multiple domains simultaneously.

The UAE hosts major U.S. military facilities, including Al Dhafra Air Base, which has served as a hub for regional air operations. Any confirmed strike on UAE soil would carry significant diplomatic consequences for Abu Dhabi, which has maintained formal peace relations with Israel since 2020 and has sought to distance itself from regional conflict escalations.

What to Watch

1. A statement from U.S. Central Command or the White House confirming or assessing damage from the strikes in UAE and Kuwait.
2. Whether the UAE government publicly acknowledges the attack and what response, diplomatic or military, follows from Abu Dhabi.
3. Any announced or executed U.S. retaliatory action after Iran’s official military confirmation of responsibility.