Florida:
“Earlier today, US forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” the command said in a post on X, adding that American forces remained ready to defend against Iranian aggression.
The interception came amid a fragile ceasefire and a renewed cycle of military exchanges between the US and Iran. Earlier on Saturday, US forces carried out targeted strikes on Iranian coastal radar installations in Goruk and on Qeshm Island after intercepting drones that were allegedly threatening maritime traffic in the strategic waterway.
Iran retaliated by launching missiles towards US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. Kuwaiti authorities said seven ballistic missiles crossed populated areas, causing structural damage but no casualties. Bahrain activated warning sirens and advised residents to seek shelter.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed that the strikes had successfully hit American military installations in both Gulf nations. However, the US military said six incoming missiles were intercepted by regional air defence systems, while another failed to reach its target.
Diplomatic efforts have continued despite the escalation. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday with what Iranian media described as a special message from Pakistan’s military and political leadership for Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Negotiations have reportedly slowed as Tehran seeks access to frozen revenues, sanctions relief for its oil exports and ports, and leverage over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. An adviser to Iran’s supreme leader had earlier said the release of USD 24 billion in Iranian assets frozen by the United States was a key element of any peace agreement.
Tensions have also intensified in Lebanon, where three members of the Lebanese armed forces, including two officers, were killed in an Israeli strike on a military vehicle in the country’s south. Israeli officials said the incident was being investigated.
The continuing clashes across the Gulf and Lebanon have highlighted the challenges facing negotiators seeking to turn the fragile ceasefire into a broader and more durable peace agreement.
