Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain on Saturday, prompting air defense responses in both Gulf states and further straining a fragile truce between Tehran and Washington.Bahrain’s government said Iranian missiles and drones targeting Bahrain and Kuwait were successfully intercepted and called on Tehran to immediately stop attacks against its Gulf neighbors, the Associated Press reported.The strikes came hours after the US military said it had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones launched towards the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf allies, while also striking Iranian coastal radar sites in response.
Kuwait, Bahrain activate air defense
Kuwait’s military said it was responding to ongoing missile and drone attacks. “Kuwaiti air defenses are currently responding to hostile missile and drone attacks,” the army said in a statement on Twitter, without identifying the source of the launch.It said, “The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces has confirmed that any explosions that could be heard were the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks.”Bahrain activated air raid sirens and instructed residents to evacuate to the nearest safe place and follow official guidance. In a strongly worded statement, Bahrain’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attacks and accused Iran of violating the sovereignty of both Gulf countries.“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the renewed attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Kingdom of Bahrain and its sister state of Kuwait,” the ministry said.Bahrain described the attacks as “gross aggression”, saying they represent a serious violation of international law and the territorial sovereignty of both countries.Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it targeted Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts US forces, as well as the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.The latest exchange comes amid escalating confrontation between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and natural gas shipments.The US military said it struck several Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites “to protect against further attacks”, including one on an island in the Strait of Hormuz.
US says seven missiles were launched
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), Iran fired seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain on Friday. US forces intercepted six missiles, while the seventh failed to reach its target. The military said there were no reports of injuries to American personnel.The missile launch followed an earlier US operation that shot down four Iranian drones headed towards the Strait of Hormuz. “Attack drones pose an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” CentCom said.Despite the renewed violence, US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the situation. “The situation with Iran is going very well,” Trump told reporters on Friday.“We’re going to come out of Iran very quickly and it’s going to be very strong one way or the other, whether it’s a piece of paper or a very hard way,” he said.He said, “The very hard way is probably the easy way out, but we’re going to come out, and your fertilizer prices are going to be much lower than they were four months ago.”
Regional tensions remain high
Tension continues on the Israel-Lebanon border also. Israeli forces launched fresh attacks in southern Lebanon on Friday, killing nine people, according to Lebanon’s state news agency.The conflict in Lebanon is closely linked to broader regional diplomacy, with Iran insisting that any permanent ceasefire arrangement must also address the fighting involving the Iran-backed Hezbollah group.Meanwhile the US has stepped up pressure on Tehran by targeting its energy sector with new sanctions and blocking a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean.