Iran launches drone attacks on Gulf allies after U.S. strikes
Iran fired drones at Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for U.S. airstrikes that Iran says hit a wedding, while regional diplomats called for renewed negotiations.
Iranian forces launched drone attacks on U.S.-aligned bases in Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday, saying the strikes were a self-defensive response to U.S. air raids conducted overnight. The U.S. Central Command said its strikes targeted Iranian air-defense sites, radar installations and maritime assets, while Iranian state media reported that one of the attacks hit a wedding party in the coastal town of Kuhestak, killing four people and wounding at least 68.
"My message to everyone is stay away," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on a television program, urging nations to cease any support for Iran.
Bahrain’s air-defense system intercepted several of the Iranian drones, though details were not disclosed. Iran’s foreign ministry described the actions as retaliation for violations of Iranian sovereignty. The incident follows a series of escalations, including a U.S. strike on Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian missile launches at U.S. bases in Jordan, which were intercepted.
In a separate incident, a Saudi-flagged tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, killing two Filipino crew members; no group claimed responsibility. Regional diplomats from Egypt and Qatar urged the United States and Iran to return to negotiations, warning that continued escalation could threaten regional security. Meanwhile, Iran’s currency hit a record low amid the heightened tensions.