The Iranian military has recently launched a series of attacks on US military bases located in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), employing missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These strikes were aimed at key communication systems and aircraft hangars, representing a notable escalation in the ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.

On Thursday, September 3, the Iranian military announced that it had executed these retaliatory attacks as part of Operation Saeqeh (Lightning), which is the 31st phase of this military initiative. The strikes were reportedly in response to the deaths of Iranian civilians and military personnel, which Tehran attributes to unprovoked aggression by the US.

According to Iranian military statements, the missile and drone strikes successfully hit the Ahmed al-Jaber Air Base, which is operated by the US in Kuwait. Damage was reported to communication systems and aircraft hangars as a result of the attacks. Additionally, Iranian forces targeted military personnel and radar systems at the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, which is described as a crucial logistics and support center for US operations in the region.

Qatar has confirmed the Iranian attacks on US military targets within its territory. Esmaeil Baqaei, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, stated that Qatar officially notified the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) that Iran's defensive actions were solely directed at US military facilities and did not target civilian areas. This confirmation was intended to counter claims that Iran's military operations were aimed at civilian populations.

Baqaei emphasized that the Qatari government, in its communication with the ITU, clarified that the Iranian attacks were defensive in nature and specifically aimed at US military installations. He highlighted that the only exception noted by Qatar involved an attack on a gas facility on March 18, which he argued was also connected to US military operations against Iran.

Furthermore, Baqaei accused the US of targeting civilian sites in Iran, contrasting this with Iran's military actions, which he claims are carefully directed at military objectives. The Iranian military has vowed to continue responding forcefully to any US attacks, stating that its forces will retaliate against what they describe as terrorist actions by the US military.

These Iranian attacks come in the wake of a new wave of US airstrikes on southern Iranian cities, which, according to Iran's Health Ministry, resulted in at least 18 deaths and 142 injuries. Reports indicate that one of the targets was a residential home hosting a wedding celebration in Kuhestak, Hormozgan province, leading to civilian casualties, including a four-year-old child.

The Iranian military has made it clear that it will persist in its strong responses to any US aggression until achieving a final victory and punishing those it deems aggressors.