Iran and the U.S. trade strikes in the Persian Gulf, further testing the ceasefire
Iranian drones struck Kuwait International Airport, killing one person and wounding 63, while the U.S. retaliated by targeting an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island, escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. Iran has paused ceasefire talks with mediators, demanding enforcement in Lebanon first, while the U.S. denies reports of a cessation in negotiations.
Kuwait International Airport was heavily damaged by Iranian drones Wednesday, killing one person and wounding 63, including passengers and workers, according to Kuwait’s Defense Ministry. The attack targeted a passenger terminal, prompting Kuwait to briefly shut the airport and later resume limited operations from a different terminal. Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry reserved the right to respond, stating it would neither accept nor tolerate the aggression. The U.S. military reported that Iran fired two missiles at Kuwait, which disintegrated en route, and that American and Bahraini forces intercepted missiles and drones aimed at the Gulf region. Bahrain’s Defense Ministry confirmed destroying three missiles and multiple drones fired by Iran. In retaliation, the U.S. struck an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran’s Revolutionary Guard acknowledged but did not directly link to Kuwait. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the U.S. strikes as acts of aggression, violating the ceasefire, while a senior Emirati diplomat called for a unified Gulf response, stating the attacks targeted the entire region. Iranian semiofficial news agencies Fars and Tasnim reported that Tehran’s negotiators have stopped communicating with ceasefire mediators, citing the need for a ceasefire in Lebanon before resuming talks. A regional official confirmed Iran had not communicated on Tuesday, though U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed reports of a cessation in negotiations, insisting conversations were ongoing. The escalating strikes in the Persian Gulf and Israel’s war in Lebanon have strained ceasefire efforts, with Iran maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz—a critical route for global oil and gas supplies. The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports has contributed to elevated fuel prices, amplifying the conflict’s global economic impact. Both sides claim retaliation for prior attacks, deepening tensions in an already volatile region.
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