US Shoots Down Iranian Drones in Hormuz Amid Fresh Escalation
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces engaged the drones after determining they posed a danger to maritime traffic in the strategic waterway
Florida: The United States military said it intercepted and destroyed two Iranian attack drones in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, describing them as an immediate threat to international commercial shipping.
In a statement posted on social media, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces engaged the drones after determining they posed a danger to maritime traffic in the strategic waterway.
“Earlier today, US forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said, adding that US forces remain prepared to respond to further threats.
The incident marks the latest escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran and comes amid growing concerns over the stability of a fragile ceasefire framework in the region.
According to CENTCOM, US forces earlier carried out strikes on Iranian coastal radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island after identifying drone activity that threatened shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran subsequently launched missiles toward US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to reports. Kuwaiti authorities said several missiles passed over populated areas, causing property damage but no casualties. Bahrain activated emergency warning systems and urged residents to seek shelter.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for the retaliatory strikes, saying American military installations were targeted. However, US officials said most of the incoming missiles were intercepted by regional air defence systems, while another failed to reach its target.
Despite the military exchanges, diplomatic efforts remain underway. Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday carrying what Iranian media described as a message from Pakistan's leadership for Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Reports indicate that negotiations remain stalled over issues including access to frozen Iranian assets, sanctions relief and shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have previously linked progress in talks to the release of billions of dollars in frozen funds.
Regional tensions have also extended to Lebanon, where three Lebanese soldiers, including two officers, were killed in an Israeli strike on a military vehicle in the country's south. Israeli authorities said they were reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The developments highlight the growing challenges facing international mediators as efforts continue to prevent a broader regional conflict and preserve ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
