Iran initiated a series of missile and drone attacks on Wednesday morning, targeting Bahrain, Kuwait, and civilian shipping routes in the Gulf. According to U.S. military officials, the attacks included ballistic missiles aimed at regional neighbors, with one target reportedly being the U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that all incoming threats were neutralized before reaching their intended targets. Two missiles fired toward Kuwait City either fell short or broke apart during flight, while three missiles launched toward Bahrain were intercepted by combined U.S. and Bahraini air defense systems.
Earlier in the night, US forces shot down three one-way attack drones allegedly launched by Iran towards civilian vessels navigating Gulf waters. These drones posed a threat to commercial shipping operating legally in the region.
Before these strikes, U.S. forces carried out self-defense strikes against an Iranian military ground control station located on Qeshm Island, strategically important near Iran’s southern coast and key for its oil industry.
Later, at approximately 5:30 am, another wave of Iranian drones targeting US forces stationed in Kuwait failed to reach their intended targets. This heightened military activity disrupted regional air traffic, with commercial aircraft holding over Gulf airspace and several flights arriving from Kuwait, Bahrain, and Amman being cancelled at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international airport.
The latest escalation adds pressure to already fragile diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran. Negotiations have been ongoing for weeks amid tensions over regional security and other disputes. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that talks between Washington and Tehran remain active, indicating diplomatic channels are not yet closed despite recent hostilities.