Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, June 6

The US military said on Saturday its forces intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf states, in the latest escalation of tensions between Washington and Tehran.

In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the US forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones that were launched toward the strategically important waterway.

“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” CENTCOM said, adding that US forces subsequently struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to prevent further attacks.

According to CENTCOM, Iran later launched seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain. Initial assessments showed that six of the missiles were intercepted, while a seventh failed to reach its intended target.

“There are currently no reports of harm to US personnel, and Iranian claims of damaging US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain are false,” CENTCOM said, adding that US forces remained prepared to respond to any further attacks in self-defence.

Iranian state media reported that Tehran had launched ballistic missiles at two US air bases in Kuwait and facilities used by the U.S. Navy in Bahrain in retaliation for recent American military actions.

The exchange followed several days of military confrontation between the two countries, fuelling concerns over 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 authorities. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) denied responsibility, saying the damage was caused by a malfunctioning US interceptor missile.

CENTCOM rejected that claim, describing the airport strike as a “deliberate, calculated and unjustified attack” by Iran.

The IRGC has previously said it targeted US 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 confrontation has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route that carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, contributing to volatility in energy markets.

In a separate statement, CENTCOM said its forces had acted to safeguard maritime security and remained ready to counter any further threats in the region.