DUBAI/WASHINGTON — United States forces carried out strikes on Iranian coastal radar and surveillance facilities on Saturday after intercepting four drones launched by Iran toward the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. military. The latest exchange marks another escalation in the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran and further complicates diplomatic efforts to end the three-month war.
A U.S. official told Reuters that the drones were believed to be targeting maritime traffic in the region. U.S. Central Command later announced that American forces struck Iranian surveillance installations in Goruk and on Qeshm Island, both strategically located along the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran condemned the operation, with its foreign ministry accusing Washington of violating an April 8 ceasefire agreement. Tehran warned that continued military actions demonstrated a lack of commitment to reducing tensions and said the United States would bear responsibility for any resulting escalation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for retaliatory attacks on U.S. military installations in Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian forces also reportedly targeted four tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without authorization.
Kuwait’s military reported intercepting seven ballistic missiles that entered its airspace early Saturday. The missiles passed over residential areas, causing debris to fall in several locations. Authorities said the attack resulted in property damage but no casualties. In Bahrain, warning sirens were activated and residents were advised to seek shelter.
Both Kuwait and Bahrain condemned the attacks. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry described the missile launches as blatant aggression that endangered civilians and threatened regional security.
Iran later stated that ballistic missiles had struck U.S. bases in both Gulf states. However, the U.S. military said six missiles were intercepted while a seventh failed to reach its intended target.
Peace efforts remain stalled
The United States and Iran have been engaged in indirect negotiations aimed at securing an interim agreement to halt hostilities. Despite ongoing diplomatic contacts, repeated military confrontations have hindered progress toward a settlement.
Tehran has sought access to billions of dollars in oil revenues, relief from sanctions affecting crude exports, removal of restrictions on its ports, and greater influence over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments previously passed, has experienced significant disruptions since the conflict began.
Iranian state media reported that Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was traveling to Tehran as part of Islamabad’s mediation efforts. A Pakistani source said Naqvi would deliver a message from Pakistan to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
Domestic pressure on Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump is facing growing political pressure at home as rising fuel prices increase public concern over the conflict’s economic impact.
In an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump said most of Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing capabilities had been destroyed but acknowledged that Tehran still retained a significant portion of its arsenal.
Trump estimated that Iran still possessed roughly 21% to 22% of its missile inventory. When asked why Iranian leaders had not moved more quickly toward a settlement, he said they remained determined despite mounting pressure and believed negotiations would take time.
The conflict, which began after U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran on February 28, has expanded beyond direct confrontations. Tehran responded by targeting Gulf states hosting American military bases and disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The resulting instability has driven oil prices higher and disrupted global supply chains. The United Nations World Food Programme warned Friday that increasing fuel and transportation costs are pushing millions of people closer to hunger.
Meanwhile, Iranian adviser Mohsen Rezaei said a peace agreement would require the United States to release $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets. He also warned of severe consequences should American military operations resume.
Lebanon conflict adds complexity
The broader regional situation remains tense as clashes continue in Lebanon. The Lebanese military reported that two army officers and one soldier were killed in an Israeli strike on a military vehicle in southern Lebanon..
Israel said the vehicle was targeted after intelligence indicated a potential threat to its forces and suggested that Hezbollah fighters were preparing an attack from the area. Iran-backed Hezbollah condemned the strike as part of what it described as ongoing Israeli aggression.
Iran has linked any future peace agreement with Washington to a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem recently rejected a U.S.-brokered arrangement between Israel and the Lebanese government, arguing that it failed to guarantee an Israeli withdrawal and excluded Hezbollah from negotiations.
Israeli officials have maintained that military operations in Lebanon will continue and that no withdrawal is planned, despite growing friction with the United States over the conduct of the conflict.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
