Washington, July 25 -- In a significant escalation of the regional conflict, Bahrain and Kuwait secretly executed airstrikes against targets inside Iran earlier this month, marking their inaugural direct military action targeting Tehran, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Friday, citing individuals familiar with the matter.

According to the report, the aerial bombardments targeted Iranian missile and drone storage depots alongside other military installations. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) assisted the operation by providing intelligence on targets inside Iran and extending defensive air cover.

Both Gulf nations, operating modest air fleets comprising Western-made combat aircraft, decided to retaliate following sustained strikes...