Kuwait's Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Ministry reported that a power generation and water desalination plant caught fire after Iranian strikes, the second attack on Kuwaiti water infrastructure in two days [7][30][33]. Kuwait International Airport suspended operations, forcing Kuwait Airways to reschedule most flights [23][7]. The US State Department issued a worldwide travel advisory urging Americans to exercise increased caution, while the US Embassy in Beirut advised citizens not to travel to Lebanon and the US Embassy in Israel warned of an unpredictable security environment [31][10][15].
The strikes occurred on the eighth consecutive night of US bombings of Iran, launched after two American service members were killed and one went missing during Iranian attacks on a base in Jordan [31][8]. US Central Command stated the strikes were designed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to punish IRGC forces for the Jordan attack [10][18][32]. A White House spokesperson told the BBC the US carried out strikes exclusively on military targets, including military logistics infrastructure [6]. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted that the sacrifice of the fallen service members "only stiffens our resolve" [8][31].
Iran's IRGC stated it struck a US military support center at Camp Arifjan and destroyed a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, targeted a site at Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain where US combat aircraft were gathered, and destroyed at least two US fighter aircraft and three other aircraft at Al Azraq base in Jordan [7][8][32]. The IRGC warned that "containment is over" and threatened to attack the infrastructure of US allies [16]. Iran's army separately claimed large-scale drone attacks on ammunition depots and radar systems at US bases in Kuwait [1][27][9].
Both sides accused each other of war crimes for strikes on civilian infrastructure [6][9][14][37][20][45]. GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi stated that Iran's attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain constitute "war crimes" and a "grave violation of international law and the United Nations Charter" [6][9][14]. Kuwait's Foreign Ministry accused Iran of a "systematic pattern of aggression against civilian objects" after repeated strikes on oil and desalination facilities [34][40]. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation reported that a vital oil facility was hit, causing injuries and significant material losses [30][9].
Iranian officials leveled parallel accusations against the United States. Iran's Energy Minister Abbas Aliabadi described the US attack on the Jask desalination plant as a "war crime" and a violation of international humanitarian conventions [37]. The Hormozgan Water Authority reported that US strikes on the Bunji desalination plant destroyed pumping stations, cutting water to approximately 10,000 people across 20 villages [20][45]. Iran's Health Ministry reported that 50 people had been killed and more than 500 wounded in US strikes over three weeks [10][13][32]. Iran's UN representative Saeed Iravani asked the Security Council to end US aggression and accused Washington of war crimes [13][45].
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that repeated US breaches of the ceasefire agreement proved that "the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility" [9][31][24]. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi announced that Iran had suspended all commitments under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding [13][23][15]. Senior military adviser Major General Mohsen Rezaei warned that if US strikes continued for several more days, Iran would shift from retaliatory responses to "full-scale offensive operations" [10][14][17].
Gulf states described themselves as targets of unprovoked attacks. Kuwait's military stated it was confronting hostile missile and drone attacks, with several soldiers injured [5][9]. Bahrain's Ministry of Interior urged citizens to head to safe places as air defenses intercepted Iranian attacks [4][9]. Jordan's General Command stated it intercepted and downed 10 Iranian missiles with no casualties [4][26]. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Ministry condemned Iran's attacks on Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan as "brutal Iranian aggressions" [35].
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed concern about attacks on civilian infrastructure, calling them "unacceptable" and reiterating that there is no military solution [25][33][45]. The European Union and Gulf states called on Iran to halt attacks on maritime navigation and keep the Strait of Hormuz open without conditions or fees [8][32]. Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the resumption of US strikes closes the door for a settlement [43], while China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called for restoring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz [44]. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said discussions were underway to ensure freedom of navigation [36].
In Washington, lawmakers from both parties challenged the administration's legal basis for the strikes. Senator Adam Schiff argued that any assertion of 60 additional days to act without Congress has no foundation in law [38]. Representative Thomas Massie stated the war "never stopped" and the administration was not complying with the War Powers Resolution [38]. Senator Chuck Schumer called Trump's approach "a recipe for utter disaster" [39].
Human Rights Watch stated that Iran's attacks on Gulf countries were unlawful and endangered civilians, hitting residential buildings, hotels, and civilian airports [46]. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Mai Sato, stated that US attacks are "illegal" under international law and that the Iranian people are caught between foreign attacks and domestic repression [47].
The economic fallout extended across global shipping and energy markets. War risk insurance premiums for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz reached between 3 and 10 percent of hull value [41]. Brent crude oil prices rose 3 to 4 percent [17][33]. India banned its seafarers from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz after 13 sailors died [48], and South Korea extended emergency oil price cap measures [49]. The IRGC claimed two oil tankers exploded after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a claim the US military dismissed as false [11][9].