DUBAI: Bahrain and Kuwait said Sunday that Iran targeted their nations with drone and missile fire after new U.S. airstrikes hit Iran, part of an escalating crossfire that calls into question an interim deal aimed at ending the war in the region.The attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait came as a multinational maritime body overseen by the U.S. Navy said Saturday that it would expand a route near Oman in the strait to allow for both inbound and outbound traffic - likely setting up a new flashpoint with Tehran.Also read: Iran war latest ground report: Interim deal imperilled further as both sides go ballistic againThe U.S. military's Central Command said it struck Iranian military "surveillance infrastructure, communication systems, air defense sites, drone storage facilities and minelayer capabilities" following an attack on a ship at sea early Saturday morning. That ship, the Panamanian-flagged tanker Kiku, carried crude oil for the state-run energy company of Qatar, a key negotiator between Iran and the U.S.In a social media post, Trump said the U.S. had "struck Iranian missile and drone storage locations, and coastal radar sites, for violating the Cease Fire Agreement, AGAIN!" He warned of a point where the U.S. may no longer be able to be reasonable "and will be forced to militarily complete the job.""If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.The incident follows a similar back and forth that occurred just days prior when an Iranian drone struck a merchant vessel off the coast of Oman on Thursday and the U.S. military retaliated with strikes.US says strikes were a response to Iranian attack on oil tankerAccording to ship tracking websites, the Kiku left a Qatari oil field in the middle of the Persian Gulf earlier in the week and was bound for a port in the United Arab Emirates that sits on the Gulf of Oman, just on the other side of the Strait of Hormuz.It appeared to be attempting to use a route that was established near the coast of Oman that is serving as an alternative to the route sanctioned by Iran that runs through its own waters.Also read: UKMTO says ship hit by projectile within Strait of HormuzThe U.S. military said that "Iran had a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement" but "elected not to" when its forces attacked the Kiku.Iran state TV reported explosions in an area just north of the Strait of Hormuz.After the U.S. strikes early Sunday, Kuwait's military said air defenses intercepted incoming Iranian drones and missiles. It offered no immediate information on any damage. Kuwait is home to a major U.S. Army base.Bahrain's Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing what it called "a dangerous escalation that reveals that what Tehran is doing is not a passing act, nor an isolated incident, but rather a deliberate approach and a systematic pattern of repeated aggression against the sovereignty of the kingdom, and the security of its citizens and residents."Bahrain is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, whose base there came under repeated attack during the war.
US-Iran war: Kuwait, Bahrain say Tehran targeted them with drone and missile strikes
US-Iran war news: Tensions flare as Iran targets Bahrain and Kuwait with drone and missile attacks following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian military sites. This escalation jeopardizes a regional ceasefire, with the U.S. retaliating after an oil tanker was struck. Former President Trump issued a stark warning, suggesting a point of no return for Iran if hostilities continue.
Iran attacked Kuwait and Bahrain with drones following US strikes, escalating Strait of Hormuz conflict. Escalation threatens shipping and supply chains; geopolitical risk signals rising operational costs for global tech and energy infrastructure.













