US and Iran exchange strikes in Gulf; Tehran hits Kuwait, Bahrain after US targets military sites

Tensions in the Gulf region have significantly escalated as the United States and Iran exchanged military strikes, straining a fragile ceasefire. On Friday, the U.S. military reported shooting down four Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz and subsequently struck Iranian coastal radar sites. Hours later, U.S. forces also intercepted six out of seven Iranian ballistic missiles launched towards Kuwait and Bahrain.

In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for targeting "enemy bases" in the Gulf, including American military facilities in Kuwait and the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. These recent exchanges follow a deadly Iranian drone strike on Kuwait International Airport on June 3rd, which killed one person, injured dozens, and temporarily suspended flights, prompting Kuwait to expel two Iranian diplomats. The ongoing tit-for-tat attacks have deepened concerns about regional stability and further complicated stalled negotiations aimed at reopening the crucial Strait of Hormuz.