New American-Iranian Clashes and Attacks Targeting Kuwait and Bahrain

SadaNews - The U.S. military announced late Friday to Saturday that it struck radar sites in Iran "in self-defense" after the downing of four Iranian drones that Washington claimed were threatening civilian maritime navigation in the region.

The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote that U.S. forces "shot down four drones (...) launched toward the Strait of Hormuz, which posed a direct threat to regional maritime navigation.".

It added, "U.S. forces then struck Iranian radar sites for coastal monitoring in Gurok and Qeshm Island as part of self-defense against any new attacks," indicating that "U.S. forces remain vigilant and ready to respond within the framework of legitimate self-defense against any unjustified aggression from Iran.".

Meanwhile, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated that America "will be responsible for the consequences of fully closing the strait to oil and gas exports if American harm continues.".

The Guard noted in a statement on Saturday that it struck U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain with ballistic missiles in response to U.S. attacks.

For its part, the U.S. military clarified earlier today that Iran launched seven missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain, noting that six of them were intercepted, while the last missile did not reach its target. It wrote in a post on X, "Iran fired seven ballistic missiles towards Kuwait and Bahrain... According to initial assessments, six were intercepted, while the seventh did not reach its target.".

It also confirmed that "there are currently no reports of injuries among U.S. personnel," emphasizing that "Iranian claims of damaging the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false.".

This escalation came after explosions were heard early Saturday near Kuwait Airport and in Manama, where the Bahraini Interior Ministry announced the activation of sirens in the country, which hosts the U.S. Fifth Fleet. The ministry wrote on X, "The siren has been activated; we urge citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place and follow news via official channels.".

Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army announced early Saturday that air defenses are responding to enemy missile attacks and drones.

The Command stated in a statement via its official account on the X social media platform that "if explosions are heard, they result from the interception of air defense systems of enemy attacks.".

These developments came three days after Kuwait Airport was targeted in an Iranian attack that resulted in one death and 63 injuries, causing damage to the main airport in the country. The Kuwaiti Army stated at the time that it dealt with 30 Iranian missiles and drones targeting its territory.

The current military escalation coincided with stalled negotiations between Iran and the U.S., particularly regarding the mechanism for releasing Iranian funds frozen abroad, in addition to the nuclear file and the issue of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open unconditionally, amid intensified Pakistani efforts to bridge differences.

Tehran has insisted, as part of any potential agreement, on obtaining billions of dollars from oil revenues, exemptions from sanctions imposed on crude oil exports, lifting the U.S. blockade on its ports, and enhancing its influence over the vital Strait of Hormuz, after effectively hindering navigation in this strategic passage that carried about one-fifth of global oil supplies before the war broke out on February 28th.

In return, the American side rejected imposing any restrictions on maritime navigation in Hormuz, hesitated over the mechanism for lifting the embargo on Iranian funds frozen abroad, and made strict amendments to the nuclear file.