Iran strikes Arab countries in retaliation for US attacks

DUBAI,— Iran has carried out missile attacks on several Arab countries hosting U.S. troops, following a series of strikes by American forces in Iran.

Tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel are stationed across the Middle East, under the command of the U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM.

Here is a breakdown of major U.S. bases in the region and reported Iranian attacks.

Bahrain
Bahrain hosts Naval Support Activity Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. The base sits at a deep-water port capable of accommodating the largest U.S. warships, including aircraft carriers. The U.S. Navy has used the facility since 1948, originally operated by Britain’s Royal Navy. Several American ships are stationed in Bahrain, including anti-mine vessels and logistical support ships. Bahrain’s authorities said that the Fifth Fleet’s service center was hit by an Iranian missile on Saturday.

Iraq
U.S. forces operate in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State group. Their mission is scheduled to end by September, under an agreement between Washington and Baghdad. American troops have withdrawn from several facilities in federal Iraq, which maintains close ties with Iran but also partners strategically with the U.S. AFP journalists reported explosions near the U.S. consulate in Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, on Saturday. The pro-Iran Kataeb Hezbollah group warned of further attacks on U.S. bases. Kurdish security forces said the coalition intercepted multiple drones and missiles over Erbil.

Jordan
The U.S. deployed dozens of military aircraft to Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base ahead of its strikes on Iran. A Jordanian military official said that two ballistic missiles were shot down over Jordan on Saturday, without specifying the attacker. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate later reported “no casualties, only material damage.”

Kuwait
Kuwait hosts several U.S. bases, including Camp Arifjan, which serves as the forward headquarters for the U.S. Army’s CENTCOM component. The base stores equipment and supplies for U.S. forces in the region. Ali al-Salem Air Base is home to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, described by the U.S. military as a primary hub for airlift and combat operations support. Kuwait also hosts MQ-9 Reaper drones. Kuwait’s defense ministry said its forces intercepted missiles targeting Ali al-Salem on Saturday. Italy’s foreign minister added that an Iranian attack caused significant damage to the base’s runway, which also houses Italian air force personnel.

Qatar
Al Udeid Air Base hosts forward components of CENTCOM, including air forces and special operations units. The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing operates there, providing airlift, refueling, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and medical evacuation capabilities. Iran previously targeted Al Udeid with missiles last June after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. On Saturday, Qatar reported another Iranian missile attack.

Syria

U.S. forces have maintained a presence in Syria for years to fight the Islamic State group, which emerged during the country’s civil war. American troops are now withdrawing from Syria, with sources telling AFP that the exit could be completed within a month. Syrian state media reported that an Iranian missile strike on southern Syria on Saturday killed four people.

United Arab Emirates
Al Dhafra Air Base hosts the U.S. 380th Air Expeditionary Wing, which includes 10 aircraft squadrons and MQ-9 Reaper drones. The base also serves as a center for advanced air warfare training. The UAE said it intercepted two Iranian missiles on Saturday. Debris from the first wave killed one civilian in Abu Dhabi.

These developments highlight the concentration of U.S. forces in the Gulf and the broader Middle East, which Iran has targeted with missiles following recent American military operations.

(With files from AFP)