The United States military said late Saturday that it shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones threatening international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the latest clash between US and Iranian forces as tensions escalate across the Middle East. US Central Command announced on its X account that “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,” adding that American forces remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression. The incident underscores the growing volatility in the strategic waterway, a critical chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global oil shipments pass.
CENTCOM said the interception followed a broader series of engagements over the weekend. Late Friday, US forces shot down four Iranian attack drones launched toward the strait and then struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in Goruk and on Qeshm Island to “defend against further attacks”. In response, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards fired a salvo of ballistic missiles toward US bases and allies in the region. Kuwait and Bahrain reported that seven missiles were launched at their territory on Saturday, with six intercepted and one falling short of its target. Both Gulf states condemned the strikes as a dangerous escalation and a flagrant violation of their sovereignty. Explosions and air raid sirens were reported in Manama and near Kuwait International Airport, where a separate drone strike earlier in the week killed one person.
The tit-for-tat strikes come despite weeks of indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the three-month-old conflict and reopening the strait to commercial shipping. US officials have accused Iran of effectively blocking the waterway, while Tehran claims its actions are retaliation for US strikes on surveillance facilities it says were used to protect borders and ensure navigation security. The Strait of Hormuz remains heavily militarized, with US forces maintaining a heightened defensive posture and warning that any threats to international shipping will be met with force. CENTCOM reiterated that it continues to monitor the area closely and is prepared to respond to further Iranian aggression.
