US Bases in Middle East Heavily Damaged by Iranian Strikes
The conflict erupted in late February 2026 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which retaliated with missile and drone attacks leaving many of the 13 US bases uninhabitable, especially in Kuwait. US officials report low casualties due to preemptive hits on over 10,000 Iranian sites, while Iran claims US forces are neutralized and hiding. Backchannel diplomacy ramps up through Saudi Arabia, Oman, and others, with Trump pushing a rejected 15-point ceasefire amid Strait of Hormuz tensions and selective passage for nations like China and Russia.