Egypt calls Iranian attacks on Arab states ‘grave escalation’ as US, Iran launch strikes

CAIRO – 10 June 2026: Egypt on Wednesday condemned “heinous” Iranian attacks on Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, launched after the US military launched rounds of airstrikes on Iran in response to an army helicopter downing near the Strait of Hormuz.

Egypt’s foreign ministry warned that the Iranian attacks constitute “a blatant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” of these Arab states, and a “very serious escalation threatening the security and stability of the entire region.”

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they launched strikes on 21 targets at US bases across the region, including in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, in response to the latest US attacks, according to media reports

Despite efforts to reach a deal on ending the US-Iran war, tensions heightened after the downing of the US army AH-64 Apache helicopter, which prompted President Donald Trump to vow response.

Both crew members were saved and are in a stable condition.

A reported US investigation claims that an Iranian drone hit the helicopter, causing it to crash, but it is not clear whether the attack was intentional.

US, Iran Launch Strikes

US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday asserted that the operation was “a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters.”

It said its forces conduced “self-defense” strikes on Iranian air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near Hormuz with precision munitions from US Air Force and Navy fighter jets.

Meanwhile, the IRGC called the US attacks “vicious” and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned of “more severe and extensive attacks against designated targets across the region” if attacks on Iran are renewed.

Iranian reports quoted the IRGC as saying they struck four key targets at the US Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan, including what they called F-35 fighter shelters and a command-and-control center, besides the US Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait and the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

'Unacceptable Attacks'

Egypt expressed its full solidarity with Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait in the face of unacceptable attacks, and affirmed its support for all measures taken by the three countries to safeguard their security and stability and protect their citizens and national resources.

The foreign ministry stressed that the security and stability of Arab countries are an integral part of Egyptian and Arab national security, reiterating its rejection of any actions that violate states’ sovereignty or threaten their security and territorial integrity.

Egypt also called for de-escalation and respect for international law in order to preserve regional security and stability.