Kuwait’s army reported confronting hostile missile and drone attacks from Iran on Thursday, September 3, 2026. This development follows remarks made by former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, who stated that renewed fighting in the Middle East would not persist for an extended period.
Kuwaiti authorities advised residents to adhere to security and safety guidelines, clarifying that any explosions heard were due to air defense systems intercepting incoming targets. Iranian state media outlet IRIB indicated that the strikes were directed at US bases located in Kuwait.
Trump commented on Wednesday that he did not anticipate the conflict to continue much longer, suggesting Iran’s capacity to endure further attacks was limited. He characterized American strikes against Iran on Tuesday as a very heavy attack and affirmed the US was prepared for additional military operations at any time.
Iran had previously retaliated against the Tuesday strikes by targeting US regional allies Jordan and Bahrain. Reports indicate that top aides to Trump are working to prevent the conflict from escalating further before the November midterm elections. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are reportedly attempting to maintain a relatively quiet situation regarding the Iran conflict until after the elections.
Sources familiar with these discussions suggest this strategy aims to mitigate potential Republican losses in the upcoming elections, as the conflict is reportedly becoming increasingly unpopular with Americans. An August poll conducted by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, surveying 1,000 respondents, revealed that over two-thirds disapproved of Trump’s handling of the war. The university also noted that nearly as many respondents expressed disapproval of his overall job performance.
Trump also stated on Wednesday that, despite not being on the ballot for the midterm elections, he intended to support the Republican Party. He highlighted the party’s stance on not allowing Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, asserting that this effort was primarily to aid the Middle East, Israel, and the United States itself.
