Bahrain and Kuwait secretly carried out airstrikes on military targets inside Iran earlier this month, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ). The report, published on Friday, cited people familiar with the matter and said the operation marked the first known direct military action by both Gulf nations against Tehran.

According to the report, the strikes targeted drone and missile storage sites along with other Iranian military facilities. The operation reportedly received support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which provided intelligence on Iranian targets. The UAE also offered defensive air cover during the mission, the report said.

The reported operation marks a major shift in the approach taken by Bahrain and Kuwait. Both countries have relatively small air forces that operate US and European-made aircraft. Until now, they had avoided direct military confrontation with Iran despite rising regional tensions.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Bahrain and Kuwait decided to take military action after facing repeated attacks from Iran during the ongoing regional conflict. The report said both countries responded after coming under increasing pressure from Iranian attacks in recent weeks.

Unlike Bahrain and Kuwait, some Gulf countries have maintained a more balanced position. According to the report, Oman and Qatar have continued to balance their ties with Iran and Western allies instead of joining direct military operations against Tehran.

The report also said Saudi Arabia had joined the UAE in earlier strikes against Iran during the conflict. However, it added that Riyadh is now reassessing its position as the situation in the region continues to evolve.

The reported participation of Bahrain and Kuwait signals a broader expansion of the conflict. The two Gulf nations have reportedly faced some of the heaviest Iranian attacks since fighting between Tehran and Washington intensified once again. Their reported decision to launch direct strikes reflects a significant change in the regional security landscape.

On Friday, Iran announced that it had launched attacks on US military assets located in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Iranian officials described the attacks as retaliation for recent American strikes on Tehran.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they targeted a US military base in Bahrain. Iranian state media also reported an attack on an Amazon data centre in the country. However, these claims have not been independently confirmed.

Iran also said it launched drone attacks against US military facilities in Kuwait. According to the Iranian military, the targets included Camp Udairi, Camp Doha and Camp Arifjan. The Revolutionary Guards further claimed they struck Ali Al Salem Air Base. They alleged that the attack damaged an ammunition depot and caused US casualties. Independent verification of these claims has not been made.

As tensions continued to rise, Bahrain's interior ministry announced that warning sirens sounded across parts of the country on Saturday. The ministry urged residents to remain calm and move to safe locations as a precaution.

Iran has maintained that any facility or military base used by the United States for operations against Tehran would be treated as a legitimate target. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they would respond to any military action involving US forces or bases operating in the region.

The reported airstrikes by Bahrain and Kuwait, along with Iran's claimed retaliation against US military assets, indicate that the conflict has widened beyond the main parties involved. The developments also highlight growing security concerns across the Gulf region as military activity continues to expand and more countries become directly involved in the confrontation.