Clashes in the Gulf region have intensified as diplomacy shows little progress. Bahrain and Kuwait reported attacks by Iran, while the US military announced “self-defence” strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island.
According to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, the country’s international airport was hit by drones and missiles on Wednesday morning, causing severe damage to facilities and forcing the airport to suspend operations.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry said Iranian attacks killed one person, wounded several others, closed the airport, and damaged diplomatic missions. The ministry condemned the attacks “that once again targeted vital and civilian infrastructure, including Kuwait International Airport.”
On Tuesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it “successfully defeated” a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks in the Gulf. CENTCOM stated that “Iran launched several ballistic missiles towards regional neighbours; however, all failed to hit their intended targets.”
US forces also shot down three attack drones launched by Iran “towards civilian mariners.” CENTCOM said its retaliatory strikes targeted an “Iranian military ground control station” on Qeshm Island, with no US personnel injured.
Since the conflict began in late February, Iran has repeatedly attacked targets in the Gulf region where US military bases are located. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it struck the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and an airbase in response to the Qeshm strike, but CENTCOM denied the claim.
Qeshm Island lies in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping channel for oil and gas, which has been effectively closed by Tehran since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran in late February.
US President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social that talks with Iran are ongoing, but Iranian media reported no communication between Tehran and Washington for several days.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned US attacks on an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and a telecommunications tower on Qeshm Island, calling them violations of the ceasefire and international law. The ministry held Kuwait and Bahrain “directly and clearly responsible,” alleging their territory was used to support US operations.
UAE presidential advisor Anwar Gargash called for a united Gulf stance, stating, “No Gulf state should be left to face these attacks alone, because the security of the GCC states is interconnected.”
A ceasefire between the US and Iran has supposedly been in place since April 8, but talks to agree on a permanent end to the conflict have so far been unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Israel’s expanding campaign in Lebanon threatens to derail the truce.
Source: www.aljazeera.com