Bahrain and Kuwait reportedly carried out discreet fighter jet strikes on military sites inside Iran earlier this month, marking what appears to be the first known direct military action by the two Gulf states against Tehran.
According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the operation, the attacks targeted facilities used to store drones and missiles, along with several other military locations.
The reported covert mission followed weeks of Iranian retaliatory strikes aimed at Bahrain and Kuwait, two Gulf countries that host American military installations. Officials eventually determined that Iran’s attacks could not continue unanswered, the Journal reported.
The United Arab Emirates was also said to have supported the operation, offering intelligence on possible targets and providing defensive air cover. The reported involvement points to a growing level of Gulf Arab security coordination in response to Iran.
At the same time, the UAE publicly backed efforts to reduce regional tensions, according to a statement referenced by the WSJ.
Representatives for the governments of Bahrain and Kuwait did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
