Gulf states come under Iranian fire as US strikes intensify

What Happened

Overnight on 28 June 2024, Iran launched coordinated missile and drone strikes against multiple Gulf states and neighbouring countries, targeting facilities it asserts are used by the United States military to stage attacks on Iran. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for strikes on a US air control radar in northern Ghanim, Oman, and a maritime surveillance radar in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as an attack on a US military base in Kuwait that allegedly hit a missile defence radar, weapons depots, and two HIMARS launchers. Iran’s army separately said it targeted US helicopters and reconnaissance aircraft at Bahrain’s Sakhir airbase, according to Tasnim news agency. In response, US coalition forces shot down eight explosive drones over Erbil, Iraq, and Jordanian air defences intercepted three Iranian missiles transiting Jordanian airspace. In Qatar, which hosts major US facilities, explosions were heard in Doha, the security threat level was elevated twice before returning to normal, and the Qatari Ministry of Interior confirmed that a child was injured by falling shrapnel. Iranian strikes also reportedly targeted the al-Tanf base in Syria. Simultaneously, the US bombed civilian infrastructure in southern Iran for a sixth consecutive night, hitting telecommunications networks, railways, and the Bandar-e Khamir bridge in Hormozgan province, killing at least seven people, according to local media.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The simultaneous Iranian attacks on multiple Gulf states represent a dangerous expansion of the US-Iran conflict, directly involving countries that host American bases and underscoring the fragility of the entire region. By striking targets in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and others, Iran is attempting to deter the US from using regional infrastructure for its air campaign, while also signalling its ability to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. The escalation comes despite a tentative ceasefire agreed in mid-June, threatening to derail a 60-day negotiation window and drawing urgent diplomatic interventions from China and Pakistan, who warned that the hard-won pause could be lost.

Watch For

Monitor whether the US expands its targeting to IRGC assets outside Iran or escalates strikes on civilian infrastructure, as both could trigger further Iranian retaliation against Gulf states. The fate of the 22 June agreement’s 60-day negotiation period hangs in balance; any signal that talks will resume—or collapse—will be critical. Watch for additional IRGC claims of attacks on US assets, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, and any disruptions to maritime traffic there. Diplomatic statements from China, Pakistan, and European powers may indicate whether a new ceasefire push is imminent.