The US military launched “self-defence” strikes against Iran following a wave of missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf nations and international shipping lanes.
Meanwhile, Iranian drones struck Kuwait International Airport on Wednesday morning, causing “significant” building damage and injured several people. Consequently, authorities suspended all air traffic at the hub. Kuwaiti Ministry of Defence spokesman Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi condemned the strike, describing it as “criminal Iranian aggression.”
US Intercepts Missiles Over Gulf
The US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed its forces targeted an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island. Additionally, US and Bahraini air defences intercepted three ballistic missiles heading toward Bahrain. Two other Iranian missiles targeted Kuwait but broke apart en route. Tehran claimed its forces targeted US bases and helicopters in retaliation.
Furthermore, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stark warning that “disrupting the security of the Strait of Hormuz will carry a heavy price for the aggressive US military.”
Naval Blockade and Stalled Peace Talks
The escalation coincides with an active US naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Centcom recently disabled a Botswana-flagged oil tanker, the M/T Lexie, heading toward Iran’s Kharg Island. A US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room after the crew ignored multiple warnings. Overall, the US military has disabled six commercial vessels and redirected 122 others since 13 April.
These hostilities occur amid stalled ceasefire negotiations. US President Donald Trump recently dismissed critics, stating that Iran “really wants to make a deal, and it will be a good one for the USA.” However, Trump requested changes to the ceasefire terms regarding uranium removal and nuclear negotiations. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmail Baghaei, denied these claims, accusing Washington of “constantly changing its views.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the administration’s strategy before Congress. He clarified that negotiators have not offered Iran sanctions relief to reopen the strait. Rubio testified that “any sanctions relief is condition-based,” linking it directly to Iran’s nuclear program. He later told lawmakers during a tense exchange, “The war is over.”
