Kuwait, Bahrain say air defenses intercept new Iranian drone attacks

Kuwait's armed forces said on Thursday that air defense systems intercepted hostile drones over several areas of Kuwait, with explosions heard across parts of the country resulting from the interceptions.

The military did not immediately provide details on the number of drones intercepted, their origin, or whether the incident had caused any casualties or damage.

Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country held Iran "fully responsible" for the attacks and their consequences, warning that continued strikes against Kuwait and other Gulf Cooperation Council states would further escalate tensions and undermine regional security and stability.

On the same say, the General Command of the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) also said that its air defense systems intercepted and destroyed new Iranian aerial attacks targeting Bahrain.

In a statement, the BDF said that all its units remain at the highest levels of readiness and full defensive preparedness to protect the kingdom.

The latest incident came amid heightened regional tensions after the United States carried out several waves of strikes on Iran in recent days, saying the operations were aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping" in the Strait of Hormuz.

Early Thursday, the Iranian armed forces targeted US bases and facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan in retaliation for fresh attacks by the United States against locations in southern Iran.

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said in a statement that it destroyed a C-RAM radar system, a satellite communications center, and an assembly site at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base, hit a fighter jet ramp and a command center at Jordan's al‑Azraq base, and struck a wharf at Kuwait's Shuaiba Port.

Meanwhile, the Iranian Army deployed homegrown Arash drones to target US radar systems, a Patriot battery and oil depots at Ali Al Salem, as well as communications and radar facilities at Bahrain's Shaikh Isa Air Base.

(With input from Xinhua)