Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility on July 16, 2026, for missile and drone strikes targeting US military installations at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and Azraq base in Jordan. The attacks, framed by Tehran as retaliation for recent US military operations against Iranian assets, represent one of the most direct confrontations between Iran and American forces since this conflict officially ignited on February 28, 2026.
The IRGC said its strikes were aimed at US soldiers, communication infrastructure, radar systems, and fuel storage.
What happened and why it matters
The conflict has spread fast. Since February, fighting has rippled across multiple Gulf states, including Bahrain and Jordan, pulling an increasingly wide geography into an already volatile situation.
Kuwait and Jordan are both host nations for significant US military presence, and strikes on their soil put those governments in an awkward position. Neither country is a party to the conflict, but geography has made them participants regardless.
