Iran Hits Back in Gulf State Strikes: Iran launched another wave of missile and drone attacks overnight into July 18, striking Kuwait, Jordan, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia. The attacks expanded on the regime’s existing retaliatory campaign against the United States, which also confirmed it had completed a seventh consecutive night of strikes against targets inside Iran.
The overnight strikes caused the most substantial confirmed damage in Kuwait yet, with authorities having confirmed fires, injuries, and damage to oil, electricity, and water infrastructure. Authorities in Jordan and Bahrain also confirmed that their air defenses had intercepted Iranian projectiles, and warning systems were also activated in parts of Saudi Arabia. It’s a warning to the United States that continued strikes will be met by yet more destabilizing attacks by Iran that pile pressure on the global economy and Gulf states that are broadly supportive of the United States’ objectives.
A U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F-35, both assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, fly over the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California with a U.S. Air Force F-15 during Gray Flag 2024 on Sept. 24, 2024. Gray Flag is an annual large-force test event that brings the joint force together to test and evaluate multi-domain systems in a maritime environment, ensuring our nation’s warfighters are equipped with effective, interoperable systems that will help them deter aggression, protect our nation’s prosperity and security, and return home safely to their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs)
(Dec. 7, 2024) LT Steven Holcomb, attached to the Gunslingers of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105, operates a F/A-18E Super Hornet on the flight deck during flight operations, Dec. 7, 2024. USS George H.W. Bush is in the basic phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan conducting flight deck certification.(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jayden Brown)
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also confirmed it was targeting facilities that support U.S. military operations across the region; however, several of its claims about destroyed American aircraft and damaged military bases have not been independently verified.
Kuwait Confirms Damage to Water and Oil Facilities
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy confirmed that overnight Iranian strikes hit one of the country’s combined power generation and water desalination plants.
“One of the power and water distillation plants was the target of an attack as part of the Iranian aggression… resulting in a fire, damage and the impairment of several production units,” the ministry said in a statement, telling civilians to “ration their electricity consumption during this exceptional period.”
The strikes are significant as 90% of Kuwait’s drinking water comes from desalination – a process in which salt is removed from seawater to make it drinkable. These energy-intensive systems push water through membranes, using a process known as reverse osmosis.
The same process is also used in Oman and Saudi Arabia, accounting for 86% and 70% of the countries’ potable water, respectively.
If the strike is a sign of things to come, it could spell trouble for the Gulf, with hundreds of these desalination plants dotted along the Persian Gulf coast.
The only option for the U.S. and Gulf states is to protect coastal systems with air defenses. The risk, however, is compounded by the fact that these coastal facilities are typically paired with power stations that produce energy for both national grids and the desalination plants themselves.
Jordan and Bahrain Intercept Attacks
Jordan’s Armed Forces said that the country’s air defense systems successfully intercepted 10 Iranian missiles that entered Jordanian airspace and were directed at targets inside the kingdom. The military reported zero casualties and no damage caused by the attack.
The country’s armed forces also said that Royal Engineering Corps teams had been dispatched to begin the process of clearing debris from the intercepted missiles that fell across various parts of the country.
The IRGC, however, claimed that its missiles had successfully struck the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base at Al-Azraq, where American forces are known to operate. Iranian forces also claim to have destroyed American aircraft and related infrastructure.
Saudi Base Reportedly Targeted
Warning systems were also activated around Al-Kharj, southeast of Riyadh, and in Yanbu, a major Saudi oil and petrochemical export center on the Red Sea. According to two sources who spoke to Reuters, the Prince Sultan Air Base near Al-Kharj was targeted – an installation that supports U.S. military operations and has hosted U.S. aircraft and air defense forces. Saudi authorities did not immediately confirm that the base had been struck or damaged, however.
The Strikes Continue
The strikes continued through Saturday, with breaking news reports after noon Eastern Time describing how Iranian strikes had successfully hit the Kuwait National Petroleum Company North Pier crude oil export facility.
“BREAKING: Iran has struck the Kuwait National Petroleum Company North Pier crude oil export facility at the Mina Al Ahmadi hub in Kuwait, with the facility on fire and smoke visible on Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Kuwait relies on this hub for 90% of its economy,” The Hormuz Letter reported.
Fox News also published video footage of large plumes of black smoke rising from the oil facility, noting that the Kuwait Petroleum Company had confirmed extensive damage at the site.
“Thick smoke rises from the direction of a Kuwait oil facility after officials say it was hit in repeated Iranian attacks. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation says the strike caused significant damage and left some people injured as Iran expands attacks across the Gulf. The latest escalation comes after another night of U.S. strikes on Iranian military targets,” Fox reports.
The strikes are likely to prompt further escalation from the United States as Washington seeks to defend Gulf states that host its military infrastructure, and force Tehran to come back to the negotiating table.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, producing and editing analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at 19FortyFive and National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
