International Desk, Jul 9 (EFE).- The latest escalation in the Middle East intensified on Thursday as Iran launched a series of strikes targeting interests for the United States across several Arab nations, including Jordan and Kuwait.
The strikes followed an announcement from the US that it had completed a 90-strike offensive against Iran, aimed at degrading Tehran’s military capabilities.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard issued a warning to Washington, stating that if the aggression continues, which they claim resulted in 14 deaths and 78 injuries from Wednesday and Thursday, there will be decisive responses against other US bases in the Persian Gulf.
Attacks in Kuwait
The Kuwaiti Armed Forces reported that they intercepted three ballistic missiles, one cruise missile, and ten drones launched by Iran early Thursday morning. The attack resulted in at least one injury, who remains in stable condition, and caused material damage in various parts of the country.
«The State of Kuwait reserves all its rights to take whatever is necessary to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty,» the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
Colonel Saud Abdulaziz Al Atwan, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the arsenal detected in Kuwaiti airspace was successfully intercepted and neutralized.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the assault, stating they targeted major infrastructure and facilities at the US bases in Arifjan (south) and Ali Al Salem (west).
Attacks in Jordan
The Jordanian military announced it had intercepted and shot down eight missiles launched from Iran. No casualties or significant damage were reported within the country.
A military source from the Jordanian Armed Forces General Command confirmed that Jordanian air defense systems intercepted and downed eight missiles launched from Iran toward Jordanian territory on Thursday. The source added that while debris fell, there were no casualties or material damage.
The last Iranian attacks against Jordan occurred one month ago.
Alerts in Bahrain and Qatar
Air raid sirens sounded across various parts of Bahrain early on morning, according to the Ministry of Interior’s update on X. Authorities repeatedly urged citizens and residents to remain calm and move to the nearest safe location.
In Qatar, the Ministry of Interior issued a high-level security threat alert, as reported by the state agency QNA. Shortly thereafter, officials confirmed the danger had passed and that residents could return to their normal routines.
Gulf Nations call on the UN to condemn attacks
Member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have appealed to the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to adopt a «firm» stance against Iran’s attacks on regional nations and vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar) called for collective condemnation and urged the international community to «take a firm stance to ensure safe transit through international waterways and guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz without restrictions and without the imposition of transit or service fees,» according to an official statement.
Netanyahu: the war is not over
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the war against Iran «is not over yet.» He reiterated that the Israeli military, particularly the air force, remains prepared for any scenario.
«The Iranian axis is weaker than ever, while Israel is stronger than ever. Together, we are not only changing the peoples of the Middle East, but, above all, we are changing ourselves. We dared to attack,» Netanyahu declared during a speech at a graduation ceremony for 40 new military pilots.
Funeral of Ali Khamenei
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the city of Mashad, Iran’s second-largest city, for the funeral procession of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, marking the end of a week of massive funeral events across five locations in Iran and Iraq.
The streets of Mashad were filled with mourners accompanying the coffin of the religious leader, who governed the Islamic Republic for 36 years. Following his assassination by the US and Israel on Feb. 28 (the first day of the war) supporters carried banners reading «We will kill Trump.»
The massive procession continued to the shrine of Imam Reza, the eighth Imam of Shiism, where the leader had requested to be buried. EF
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