The US Central Command announced early Wednesday that US forces successfully shot down several Iranian ballistic missiles and drones and carried out defensive strikes on Qeshm Island in response to what it described as Iranian attempts to launch attacks across the Middle East.

In a statement, it said: “Iran launched several ballistic missiles toward neighboring countries, but they failed to hit their targets. Two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait either fell short of their destination or broke apart during flight, while US and Bahraini air defense forces immediately intercepted three missiles launched toward Bahrain.”

The US Central Command added: “Moments earlier, US Central Command forces (CENTCOM) shot down three one-way attack drones launched by Iran toward civilian mariners who were lawfully transiting territorial waters. US forces also conducted defensive strikes against an Iranian military ground control station on Qeshm Island.”

It further stated that no US service members were injured.

Qeshm Island (Archive).

The Iranian Response

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported on Wednesday, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), that it had targeted the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, a US air base, and helicopters in a regional country using missiles and drones. The attack was described as retaliation for what Iran said was a US strike on an IRGC communications tower south of Qeshm Island.

Iranian media also quoted the IRGC as saying that its naval forces targeted a vessel named Pania with missiles in response to what it described as a US attack on an Iranian oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the IRGC, a projectile struck the tanker's engine room and caused damage.

The IRGC added: “Any disruption to the security of the Strait of Hormuz will inflict heavy losses on the US military.”

Later, the US military denied Iranian claims that the headquarters of the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and a US air base had been targeted.

Earlier, the US military announced that it had fired a missile at a vessel attempting to sail toward an Iranian port in violation of the US blockade, rendering it inoperable.

In a statement, US Central Command said that the empty Botswana flagged oil tanker MT Lexi had “ignored repeated warnings” over a 24-hour period. It added that a US military aircraft ultimately disabled the vessel by firing a Hellfire missile at its engine room.

A member of the U.S. military (AFP).

In Kuwait and Bahrain

In the same context, the Kuwaiti military announced on Wednesday that its air defense systems had intercepted “hostile” missile and drone attacks, as air raid sirens sounded across the country.

In a statement, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said that “any explosion sounds that may be heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile attacks,” without specifying the source of those attacks.

Kuwait had previously announced the interception of similar missiles on Monday and attributed those attacks to Iran.

Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior announced that warning sirens had been activated and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location.