Iran launched retaliatory strikes against approximately 18 U.S. military installations in the Gulf region on June 11 and 12, 2026 [1].
These attacks signal a significant escalation in regional tensions, as Tehran directly targets U.S. assets in response to previous strikes and an Israeli attack on Beirut.
A senior commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force issued a warning accompanying the operations. "We will turn the region into hell," the commander said [2].
The IRGC conducted the operation in two waves [1]. While some reports state 18 U.S. bases were targeted [1], other reports indicate more than 18 sites were hit [3].
The strikes primarily targeted military installations in Kuwait, and Bahrain [1]. Some reports also include Jordan as a location of the attacks [3, 4].
Tehran described the strikes as a "decisive military response" to recent U.S. actions [5]. The IRGC said the operation was a necessary retaliation to deter further aggression in the region.
Official statements from the IRGC reiterated the severity of the threat. "The region will become hell," the IRGC statement said [2, 3].
U.S. officials have not provided a comprehensive casualty count for the sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, or Jordan. The strikes follow a period of increased volatility in the Middle East, marked by frequent exchanges between regional proxies and state actors.
“"We will turn the region into hell."”
This escalation demonstrates Iran's willingness to move beyond proxy warfare by directly targeting U.S. military infrastructure across multiple sovereign borders. By striking bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and potentially Jordan, Tehran is attempting to establish a new deterrent threshold, signaling that U.S. regional presence is now a direct target in response to both American and Israeli military actions.
