TIMES International
Iran fired missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain early on Wednesday, prompting US strikes on Qeshm Island and raising concerns over a resumption of full-scale conflict in the Gulf.
The attacks occurred amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end hostilities between Tehran and Washington, nearly 100 days after the war began in late February, reports Al Jazeera.
Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA reported that missiles and drones targeted the country’s international airport, causing damage, injuries, and flight disruptions.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart in flight, while several others failed to reach their targets.
In Bahrain, sirens warned residents of missile strikes on a US Fifth Fleet headquarters, though CENTCOM reported that all projectiles were intercepted and no personnel were harmed.
The US had struck a telecommunications tower on Iran’s Qeshm Island just prior to the attacks, believed to house missile stockpiles, and intercepted Iranian drones targeting civilian vessels.
Tehran claimed a US strike damaged an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, and the IRGC retaliated with missiles against a vessel identified as “Panaya.”
Both Washington and Tehran offer competing accounts. CENTCOM said the escalation began with the US strike on the tanker, followed by Iranian drone attacks, which were then neutralised before US forces targeted Qeshm.
Iranian media maintained that Kuwait and Bahrain were complicit, allowing US operations from their territory.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told US lawmakers that sanctions relief would require Iran to end nuclear activity.
He described the war as “over,” noting that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains engaged in negotiations.
Tehran seeks access to billions in oil revenue, relief from the US blockade, and continued leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG shipments.
The strikes follow a lull after a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8, which temporarily reduced hostilities.
In recent weeks, attacks have resumed: CENTCOM reported “self-defence strikes” on Iranian radar and drone sites, and Kuwaiti authorities said air defences intercepted hostile projectiles.
On 17 May, a drone strike in Abu Dhabi caused a fire at a Barakah plant generator, with no injuries reported.
Analysts say the exchange of strikes highlights the fragility of Gulf security, with drones and missiles increasingly employed to target infrastructure, military facilities, and civilian sites.
Both sides continue to stress defensive and retaliatory rationales while global observers warn that escalation could imperil regional stability.
The rapid succession of incidents underscores the persistent threat of confrontation. While Washington maintains a blockade and insists on curbing Iranian influence, Tehran emphasises self-defence and strategic sovereignty.
The latest attacks illustrate the volatile mix of military posturing and diplomacy that defines the ongoing Gulf conflict.
