Kuwait city: Iran announced on Thursday that it had targeted US military bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in response to a US strike on a wedding party that resulted in the deaths of four people and injuries to nearly 70. The US military, however, maintains that it does not target civilians, and US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
According to France24.com, the new hostilities began with US raids on Sunday, which have intensified the ongoing impasse in the six-month conflict. Iran continues to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz while the United States enforces a counter-blockade on Iranian ports. Kuwait's army reported intercepting a missile and drone attack from Iran, with the Iranian military claiming to have hit the Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti government condemned the attack as a significant violation of international law. Meanwhile, Iran also reported striking the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, although the UAE denied any such attack occurred.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) reported that a missile attack on a wedding in Kuhestak, an Iranian coastal town, killed four people, including a child, and injured more than 50 individuals. Vice President Vance stated that the United States is investigating the alleged strike but expressed skepticism about the reports from Iran, citing the country's state media as unreliable in the conflict.
Ahmad Vahidi, head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), vowed to retaliate for the attack, promising that the victims' deaths would not go unavenged. US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Tim Hawkins reiterated that the US military does not target civilians, contrasting its actions with those of the IRGC.
In response to extensive US bombardments across Iran, which resulted in at least 19 Iranian casualties, Tehran launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, targeting US bases in the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and Iraq's Kurdistan region. Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, warned the US of a new strategy that would destabilize its foundations. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed confidence that Iran's regime is weakening and nearing collapse.
In addition to military actions, the US has threatened to impose sanctions on Iran's trade partners to further pressure its economy. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright announced plans for expanded sanctions to maximize economic pressure on Iran.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticized the US over the wedding attack, labeling the country as "Satan." Iranian citizens expressed concern over the renewed hostilities, with some calling for a return to negotiations to alleviate the suffering of the Iranian populace.
A video shared by an Iranian government account showed the aftermath of the wedding site attack, with visible debris and audible distress. The father of the bride, Ali Mallahi, expressed relief that the casualties were not higher, despite the tragic incident.
A fragile ceasefire had previously collapsed in July following attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel's defense minister stated his country's readiness to respond with force if Iran targeted them during the Jewish high holiday season in mid-September, noting that Iran's current strikes have not yet targeted Israel.