New Delhi, Jun 6: The United States military said its forces intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf nations, marking a fresh escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.
In a statement, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces shot down four Iranian “one-way attack drones” that were launched toward the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” CENTCOM said, adding that U.S. forces subsequently struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island “to defend against further attacks.”
According to CENTCOM, Iran later fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain. Initial assessments indicated that six of the missiles were intercepted, while a seventh failed to reach its intended target.
“There are currently no reports of harm to U.S. personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging U.S. Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false,” CENTCOM said. The command added that American forces “remain vigilant and postured to continue responding to unwarranted Iranian aggression in self-defense.”
Iranian state media reported that Tehran launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. air bases in Kuwait and facilities used by the U.S. Navy in Bahrain in retaliation for recent American military actions. The latest exchange follows several days of military confrontation between the two countries, raising concerns about the stability of an already fragile ceasefire. Earlier this week, Iranian drone strikes reportedly hit Kuwait International Airport, killing one person and injuring more than 60 others, according to local officials.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied responsibility for the airport attack, claiming the damage was caused by a malfunctioning U.S. interceptor missile. CENTCOM rejected the allegation, describing the strike as a “deliberate, calculated and unjustified attack” by Iran.
The IRGC has previously said it targeted U.S. military facilities in the Gulf in response to American strikes on Iranian assets, including an oil tanker and positions on Qeshm Island. The renewed hostilities come as efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled. The conflict has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy corridor that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, contributing to volatility in global energy markets. In a separate statement, CENTCOM reiterated that its forces had acted to protect maritime security, saying U.S. troops remain prepared to respond to any further threats in the region.
