An Iranian lawmaker has warned that Iran could launch attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the event of a US ground invasion, a threat that puts two key Gulf states, and the US military bases they host, squarely in the crosshairs of a rapidly escalating conflict.
Gulf states caught in the crossfire
Kuwait and Bahrain aren’t random targets. Both nations host critical US military installations. Ali Salem air base in Kuwait and Sheikh Issa air base in Bahrain serve as key operational hubs for American forces in the region.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has already claimed responsibility for drone and missile attacks targeting US-linked installations in both countries during June and July 2026. Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace in response, while Bahrain reported intercepting incoming threats. Both Gulf nations have been on heightened alert, with frequent air raid sirens and military exchanges reported through mid-July.
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf articulated the broader strategic logic during late June, suggesting that Iran’s military response could extend well beyond its borders if the US escalates further.
