Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones toward Kuwait and Bahrain on Saturday, triggering air defense responses in both Gulf states and increasing pressure on the fragile ceasefire 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 halt its attacks against its Gulf neighbors, the Associated Press reported.The attacks came hours after the US military announced it had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones launched towards the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf allies, while also striking Iranian coastal radar sites in retaliation.
Kuwait and Bahrain activate air defenses
The Kuwaiti army said it was responding to ongoing missile and drone attacks. The army said in a statement on the “X” website that “Kuwait’s air defenses are currently confronting enemy missile and drone attacks,” without specifying the source of the launches.She added, “The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirms that any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defense systems responding to enemy attacks.”
Bahrain activated air raid sirens and asked residents to move to the nearest safe place and follow official guidelines. In a strongly worded statement, the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks and accused Iran of violating the sovereignty of the two Gulf states.The ministry said: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemns the renewed attacks carried out by the Islamic Republic of Iran against the Kingdom of Bahrain and the sisterly State of Kuwait.”Bahrain described the strikes as “blatant aggression” and said that the attacks represented a serious violation of international law and the territorial sovereignty of both countries.The Iranian 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 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.The latest exchange comes amid a growing standoff between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil and natural gas shipments.The US military said it struck several Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites, including one on an island in the Strait of Hormuz, “to defend against further attacks.”
The United States says seven missiles were fired
According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain on Friday. American forces intercepted six missiles, while the seventh failed to reach its target. The army said there were no reports of casualties among American soldiers.The missile launch came in the wake of a previous American operation during which four Iranian drones heading towards the Strait of Hormuz were shot down. “The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” US Central Command said.Despite the renewed violence, US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about the situation. “The situation with Iran seems to be going well,” Trump told reporters on Friday.“We will get out of Iran very quickly and it will be very strong one way or another, whether it is in the form of a piece of paper or the very hard way,” he said. “The very difficult road may be the easier road, but we will get out, and fertilizer prices will fall dramatically, just as they were four months ago,” he added.
Regional tensions remain high
Tensions also remain high along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Israeli forces launched new raids in southern Lebanon on Friday, killing nine people, according to the official Lebanese News Agency.The conflict in Lebanon remains 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.At the same time, the United States expanded its pressure on Tehran by targeting its energy sector with new sanctions and by intercepting a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Iran in the Indian Ocean.
