Tehran escalates response to fresh American attacks as regional tensions soar and oil prices spike
Updated: July 09, 2026 08:56 am IST
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that it had carried out missile and drone strikes on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for recent American attacks on Iranian territory.
In a statement broadcast on state television IRIB, the Guards said they targeted “key infrastructure and facilities” at bases in Arifjan and Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, and Juffair and Sheikh Isa in Bahrain. The IRGC warned that its responses would expand to other bases across the region if the United States repeated its attacks.
The announcement came hours after explosions were reported in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, following air raid sirens. An AFP correspondent in the city confirmed hearing blasts shortly after authorities issued warnings of an impending attack. The incidents followed Iran’s vow to deliver a “devastating response” to fresh U.S. strikes.
U.S. Strikes Follow Iranian Actions in Hormuz
The latest escalation stems from U.S. strikes on Iran launched on July 8, after President Donald Trump vowed to respond “hard” to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. While ordering the retaliation, Trump indicated he expected the flare-up to end quickly and left open the possibility of further talks.
Iran has maintained a firm stance on the strategically vital waterway. Its chief negotiator stated that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen only under “Iranian arrangements,” denting hopes for a swift resolution to the conflict that has disrupted one of the world’s most critical oil chokepoints.
Oil Markets React Sharply
Oil prices rose sharply on Thursday as the renewed strikes undermined expectations of an early end to the conflict and the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which handled roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war.
The developments come amid a broader West Asia crisis that has drawn in multiple regional and global players. India, which has significant stakes in the region, has so far managed to navigate the fallout through careful diplomacy.
Live Situation
- Iran Guards claim strikes on U.S. bases in Kuwait, Bahrain and threaten wider action.
- Explosions reported in Bahrain following air raid sirens.
- U.S. President Trump has signalled both firmness and openness to dialogue.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides trading blows and statements while the international community watches closely for signs of further escalation or de-escalation.