WASHINGTON / GULF REGION, Monday, March 2, 2026 (WNP): At least six United States military bases and strategic sites in the Middle East have been hit in a wave of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting American forces, according to reports by The New York Times and regional news outlets. The strikes mark a significant escalation in hostilities following a major U.S.–Israeli military operation against Iran over the weekend.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has declared that all U.S. and Israeli military installations in the region are now legitimate targets, launching coordinated attacks across multiple countries hosting American personnel and assets.
The reported strikes have impacted U.S. military facilities and related assets in several Gulf countries, including:
- Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters.
- Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a key hub for U.S. Central Command operations.
- Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates, which hosts U.S. Air Force and allied aircraft.
- Ali al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, near the Iraqi border.
- S. positions in Saudi Arabia and Iraq, where defensive systems have engaged incoming threats.
Regional media reported loud explosions and intercepted projectiles over capitals including Manama, Kuwait City and Doha as Iran’s forces launched their offensive.
The U.S. military has not yet released a comprehensive damage assessment for all bases, but officials have acknowledged intercepting many incoming missiles and drones with allied air defence systems. Iranian media and some regional reports assert the attacks inflicted heavy casualties on U.S. personnel, though these figures have not been independently verified. Earlier reports have also confirmed that several U.S. aircraft were lost in ongoing hostilities, with crew members evacuated safely.
The Iranian strikes form part of a sweeping retaliation after a U.S.–Israeli offensive that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a claim that Tehran initially denied before later confirming his death. Iran’s unprecedented missile and drone campaign has extended across the Gulf and into neighbouring regions, impacting civilian infrastructure, airports and commercial centres and prompting airspace closures.
Gulf Cooperation Council states have condemned the violence and reiterated calls for de-escalation, warning that the broader conflict threatens regional stability.
Global markets have reacted to the intensifying crisis, particularly in energy sectors, amid fears of disruptions to oil exports and shipping through strategic waterways. International leaders continue to call for restraint as diplomatic and military manoeuvres unfold across multiple theatres.
The situation remains very fluid, and further official statements from U.S. Central Command and allied governments are anticipated as more information becomes available.
