Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait reported intercepting Iranian missiles and drones directed at U.S. military installations on Thursday, indicating broader regional engagement in the conflict, Reuters said.
Iran is alleged to have fired ballistic missiles toward Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan—a U.S. forces base previously struck and successfully intercepted. Concurrently, Kuwait’s Armed Forces General Staff confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted hostile aerial targets from Iran, including UAVs and ballistic missiles.
In a statement, the Iranian military said it had launched a drone operation against the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, which is stationed in Bahrain. This action was described as a response to U.S. military attacks on areas in southern Iran and the violation of a ceasefire, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Earlier, Iran’s joint military command warned that it would deliver a “crushing and decisive” response to any U.S. aggression in the region.
On Wednesday, the Iranian military declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed” to all vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, and warned that any vessel attempting to transit would be targeted. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) countered that commercial ships were continuing to transit “in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight,” refuting Iran’s claim of closure.
Market Reaction
Crude oil prices saw modest gains following the incident. At the time of writing, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was up 0.41% for the day at $90.70.
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