Tensions rose again in the Middle East early Wednesday after Iran fired missiles towards US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the missiles failed to hit their targets and were either intercepted or separated before impact. In response, US forces launched attacks on Iranian military facilities.The night sky over the Gulf lit up as Iranian missiles and drones headed toward American bases. American air defense systems intercepted incoming threats near Kuwait City, preventing them from reaching Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.US air defense used Patriot missiles to respond to the Iranian threat.The latest exchange comes amid a conflict that has intensified since the US launched a major military campaign against Iran earlier this year. Since then, the two sides have exchanged attacks, bringing the region closer to a wider confrontation. Several attempts at dialogue and negotiation have been made, but there has been no success in reducing tensions.The US military responded strongly to Iran’s action by attacking Qeshm Island.According to US officials, Iran fired missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain, but none reached their intended targets. Two missiles targeting Kuwait broke up mid-flight, while the missiles targeting Bahrain were intercepted by US and Bahraini forces.The development comes after reports from Iran’s semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies claimed that Tehran has stopped communicating with mediators about extending a ceasefire in its conflict with the US and Israel. President Donald Trump denied these reports and said that talks are ongoing.The reports published by Fars and Tasnim, considered close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, came as tensions also rose on Israel’s northern front with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.A regional official involved in mediation efforts, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press, said Iran did not negotiate with mediators on Tuesday after insisting that a ceasefire must be implemented in Lebanon before talks could continue.In a separate development, the US military said it targeted another oil tanker attempting to reach an Iranian port in violation of the US blockade. According to CENTCOM, it was the seventh ship to be intercepted while trying to circumvent sanctions.The Botswana-flagged merchant vessel M/T Lexi was stopped after her crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings for 24 hours. CENTCOM said one aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship’s engine room, disabling the ship.