DUBAI — Iran launched missiles and drones toward U.S. allies Kuwait and Bahrain on Saturday, prompting U.S. defensive action and further straining a fragile ceasefire, officials from both sides said.
The attacks came hours after U.S. Central Command reported shooting down Iranian drones threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and striking Iranian radar sites in southern Iran, U.S. officials said on Saturday, June 6. Iran described its missile launches as retaliation for what it called U.S. violations of the truce.
U.S. forces intercepted most of the projectiles, according to American military statements. One person was killed and dozens injured in a related Iranian drone strike on Kuwait International Airport earlier in the week, Kuwaiti authorities and media reports said.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps stated that the strikes targeted U.S. military facilities linked to the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and other sites, Iranian state media reported. Kuwait and Bahrain condemned the attacks, with the U.S. Secretary of State expressing commitment to their security.
The exchanges mark the most intense flare-up in the Gulf since the April ceasefire took effect following weeks of direct U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February. The truce has faced repeated tests amid stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, sanctions and access to the Strait of Hormuz.
“These actions represent a clear violation of the ceasefire,” a U.S. defense official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations. Iran accused Washington of initiating the latest round by targeting its coastal surveillance assets.
Details on the full extent of damage from Saturday's strikes remained unclear as assessments continued. No immediate reports of U.S. or allied casualties from the latest incident emerged, though earlier attacks in the region caused limited injuries and infrastructure impacts.
Peace talks mediated by Pakistan continued over the weekend, with both sides expressing interest in a longer-term agreement, according to officials involved. President Donald Trump had indicated a potential breakthrough could occur soon, even as military actions persisted.
As of Sunday, the ceasefire remained in place but under significant pressure, with U.S. and Iranian forces on heightened alert in the Gulf. Pakistani mediators were in Tehran seeking progress on deadlocked issues, officials said. Further details on casualties and damage from the weekend incidents were still being verified.
