Iran Targets Kuwait & UAE Amid US Pressure; Commerce Secretary Apologizes for War Comments

Iran's military confirmed on Thursday, September 3, 2026, that it launched missile and drone attacks against U.S. military installations in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The strikes, which Iran's army stated were part of "Operation Saeqeh," targeted sites such as the Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait and the Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, affecting satellite communications, equipment warehouses, and fighter jet hangars. These actions were described as retaliation for recent American military operations against Iran, which Tehran claims resulted in 18 deaths and 142 injuries, including civilians at a wedding. Kuwait's government condemned the attacks as a severe violation of its sovereignty, confirming that its air defenses responded to the incoming threats.

Concurrently, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick issued an apology on Thursday for mistakenly stating that no American service members had died in the ongoing conflict with Iran. Lutnick clarified that 18 U.S. military personnel have been killed and over 750 wounded, explaining that his previous comments during a Wednesday interview were made in error as he was thinking of a separate military operation in Venezuela without casualties. President Trump supported Lutnick's apology, reinforcing the correct casualty figure for the Iran conflict.