Iran Launches Massive Drone and Missile Strikes Across Gulf States

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian army launched a series of coordinated drone and missile attacks across Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan on July 23 and 24, 2026. These operations, including the "27th wave of Operation Nasr 2," targeted U.S. military facilities and infrastructure, including Ali Al Salem Air Base, Camp Udairi, Camp Doha, and Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, as well as Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.

In Bahrain, the IRGC claimed to have destroyed an Amazon data center, asserting the facility served a critical intelligence function for the U.S. military. The Bahraini Ministry of Interior activated air defenses and issued emergency sirens urging civilians to seek shelter. Meanwhile, the Jordanian Armed Forces reported shooting down seven missiles and six drones, and Kuwaiti forces intercepted multiple projectiles targeting the Al-Salem airbase and the Abdali border crossing.

These strikes follow a broader escalation after President Donald Trump announced on July 8 that a previous ceasefire was no longer in effect. Amid the conflict, the U.S. Department of Defense adjusted its reported death toll of service members from 18 to 14. Pentagon acting press secretary Joel Valdez attributed the fluctuating figures to "temporary data disruptions," while other officials stated the change removed personnel killed after a previous April ceasefire.