Iran's army claims drone attack on US facilities at Kuwait air base

Fighter aircraft hangars, satellite communication systems, equipment warehouses targeted by explosive drones: Iran

The Iranian army said on Friday that it launched a drone attack on “strategic" US facilities at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait.

In a statement, the army said “fighter aircraft hangars, satellite communication systems, and equipment warehouses” at the base were targeted by explosive drones.

The army described Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base as a “key hub” for US aerial and surveillance operations and logistical support.

There was no immediate comment from Kuwait or the US on the Iranian report.

Iraq rejects claims it facilitated US-Saudi strikes, says ‘no prior knowledge’ of attacks

Iraq’s government on Thursday rejected allegations that it had facilitated recent US-Saudi strikes, saying it neither approved nor had prior knowledge of the attacks and would not allow its territory to be used to target neighbouring countries.

Government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi said the Ministerial Council for National Security condemned the US-Saudi attacks as a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).

“The government has always believed that diplomacy and dialogue are the only way to spare the region further crises and escalation,” Aboudi said.

Read: Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, 12 other countries announce multinational maritime defence coalition

He stressed that Iraq “has not and will not allow” its territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighbouring countries, saying the government had neither granted approval for strikes on specific sites or groups inside Iraq nor had any prior knowledge of the attacks.

Aboudi said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia had been postponed following the attacks.

He added that Iraq remained committed to partnership and good-neighbourly relations with all countries and had avoided being drawn into regional conflicts.

According to Aboudi, the strikes targeted seven Iraqi provinces, killing more than 18 members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces and wounding 20 others.

He said Baghdad had asked Saudi Arabia to provide evidence supporting its allegations that Iraqi territory had been used to launch attacks, adding that investigative committees formed by the Iraqi government had found no evidence to substantiate the claims.

“We call on Saudi Arabia to share the security information it possesses so it can be verified,” he said.

Aboudi reiterated that September 30 remains the deadline for ending the presence of the US-led international coalition against Daesh/ISIS in Iraq.

The remarks came a day after the US and Saudi Arabia carried out coordinated strikes on targets in Iraq early Wednesday, with Baghdad condemning the attacks as a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Saudi Arabia said the strikes were conducted in self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter following attacks launched from Iraqi territory against the kingdom’s petroleum facilities.

US President Donald Trump has said the strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government. Baghdad has repeatedly denied the claim, insisting it neither authorised nor had prior knowledge of the operation.

Iran's Aragchi presses European counterparts over use of bases in US operations

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi urged Bulgaria to reconsider its decision ​to allow the temporary deployment of US military aircraft at the ‌Bezmer air base, Iranian state media reported on Thursday.

During a phone call with his Bulgarian counterpart, Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Araghchi said Sofia's approval of a US request to station military ​aircraft at the base to support military operations amounted to facilitating ​aggression against Iran, adding the move was unacceptable and contrary ⁠to the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries.

Iran has repeatedly warned ​countries allowing their territory to be used for US military operations against it ​that they could "face consequences".

Araghchi held a separate phone call with Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, during which he stressed the importance of preventing foreign military bases in Cyprus from being ​used against Iran.

Bulgaria's parliament last week approved the temporary deployment of up to ​eight US KC-135 tanker aircraft and up to 250 personnel at Bezmer air base despite ‌Iranian ⁠objections. Sofia has said no offensive weapons would be deployed and that the move did not make Bulgaria a party to military operations.

Cyprus hosts two British sovereign military bases, including RAF Akrotiri, which was struck by an Iranian drone ​in early March, ​a few days ⁠after Israel and the US initiated strikes on Iran.

Britain agreed early on in the war to a US request ​to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missiles in ​storage ⁠depots or launchers. Britain later clarified RAF Akrotiri would not be involved in its defensive agreement with the United States to use UK bases.

The broader defence arrangement was ⁠maintained ​by the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham ​in July, prompting Iran's Revolutionary Guards to warn Britain against facilitating US military operations against Iran.