US, Iran Exchange Strikes in the Gulf, Testing Fragile Ceasefire
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The United States and Iran have carried out fresh military strikes against each other in the Gulf, putting the latest ceasefire under severe strain.
The US military reported that it shot down four Iranian "one-way attack drones" heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the unmanned aircraft "posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic."
In response, US forces targeted Iranian coastal radar surveillance sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island. According to a statement from US Central Command (Centcom), the strikes were conducted "to defend against further attacks."
Iran then fired back. State-run Irib news agency reported that Tehran launched ballistic missiles at two US air bases in Kuwait and at US Navy facilities in Bahrain.
Centcom's initial assessment indicated that of the seven missiles fired at the two Gulf states, six were intercepted and one failed to reach its intended target.
The exchange follows a series of similar strikes in recent days, escalating tensions that now threaten a shaky ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Earlier in the week, local officials in Kuwait said an Iranian drone strike on Kuwait's international airport left one person dead and more than 60 others injured.
Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) denied involvement, claiming instead that the damage was caused by a malfunctioning US missile interceptor. Centcom rejected that explanation as false, calling the airport attack "deliberate, calculated, and unjustified." Source: BBC
The IRGC had previously stated it targeted US bases in the Gulf as retaliation for American strikes on an Iranian oil tanker and on Qeshm Island.
The latest clashes come as ceasefire negotiations between the US and Iran remain stalled, with no progress on a deal to end the wider conflict.
The current round of hostilities began on February 28, when the US and Israel launched extensive strikes on Iran, sparking turmoil across the Middle East. Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and US-allied Gulf states, while effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz—a vital passage for approximately 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas—causing global energy prices to soar.
After a short-lived ceasefire was reached in early April, the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. President Donald Trump has stated that the blockade will remain "in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified, and signed."
