American military forces intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and attack drones targeting Gulf partners on Friday, while also conducting retaliatory strikes against Iranian coastal radar installations, marking another escalation in the fragile ceasefire with Tehran.
This military exchange occurred as the Trump administration continues increasing diplomatic pressure on Iran to negotiate an agreement ending the ongoing conflict.
According to U.S. Central Command’s Friday evening social media statement, Iran launched seven ballistic missiles targeting Kuwait and Bahrain. American forces successfully intercepted six missiles, while the seventh failed to reach its intended target. Military officials reported no injuries to U.S. personnel.
These ballistic missile attacks followed earlier U.S. interception of four Iranian drones heading toward the Strait of Hormuz.
“The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic,” U.S. Central Command stated on social media.
Kuwait’s military confirmed their forces were intercepting incoming missiles and drones targeting their territory, while Bahrain activated emergency sirens and instructed citizens to seek shelter and follow official guidance.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for targeting the Ali Al Salem airbase hosting U.S. forces in Kuwait and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet stationed in Bahrain, according to state-run IRNA news agency reports.
American military forces are currently maintaining a blockade of Iranian ports as Tehran continues restricting the vital shipping corridor for global oil and natural gas transport, causing energy price increases and creating political challenges for President Donald Trump’s Republican Party before upcoming midterm congressional elections.
U.S. Central Command confirmed striking radar installations, including one located on an island within the strait, “to defend against further attacks.”
Trump promises a quick end to US-Iran conflict
These latest confrontations represent continued back-and-forth hostilities straining the unstable ceasefire and complicating diplomatic efforts to extend the truce. Earlier this week, Iranian drone attacks severely damaged Kuwait’s primary airport passenger terminal, resulting in one death, multiple injuries, and temporary airport closure.
Despite these attacks raising fresh concerns about potential ceasefire collapse, Trump informed reporters Friday that “the situation with Iran seems to be going quite well.”
“We’re going to come out of Iran very quickly and it’s going to be very strong one way or the other, whether it’s a piece of paper or the very tough way,” Trump stated during a Wisconsin farmers event. “The very tough way is maybe the easier way, but we’re going to come out, and your fertilizer prices are going to go way down, just like they were four months ago.”
When questioned Friday about the prolonged timeline, Trump told NBC’s “Meet the Press” it was because “it’s a very hard thing for them,” referencing their “great independence” and noting “they’re strong, they’re proud.”
“There are things they never thought they’d be doing that they’re going to have to do. They’ve got no choice, and it takes a little while,” he explained during the interview.
Trump indicated the Iranians maintain 21% to 22% of their missile arsenal.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon continue
His administration has also promoted the recent ceasefire agreement reached this week between Lebanon’s government and Israel following U.S.-mediated negotiations in Washington. However, the Iranian-supported Hezbollah militant organization has refused the agreement, and continued attacks threaten its viability.
Israeli military forces conducted Friday strikes across multiple southern Lebanon areas and issued evacuation orders for nine villages, including one sheltering thousands of displaced civilians. These strikes resulted in nine fatalities across six southern Lebanon locations, according to state news agency reports.
Israeli military officials reported two soldiers wounded, one critically, during Friday’s encounter with militants in southern Lebanon.
The Lebanese conflict, where Israeli forces have captured significant portions of the south, also jeopardizes efforts to conclude the Iran war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran has insisted any permanent truce must include Lebanon.
Beyond the Strait of Hormuz drone interceptions, U.S. military forces earlier Friday boarded a sanctioned oil tanker connected to Iran in the Indian Ocean as America continues preventing Iran from profiting through oil and other commodity sales.
The U.S. also imposed additional energy sector sanctions targeting individuals, companies and tankers.
