Kuwait’s military confirmed Wednesday that its air defense systems were engaging hostile aerial targets, as the United States and Iran exchanged fire following the downing of an American helicopter. Tehran stated it targeted Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan to retaliate against earlier American airstrikes.
The escalation occurred just one day after a fragile two-month ceasefire between Iran and Israel was breached by renewed cross-border fire. The immediate trigger was the crash of a US Army helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump asserted on social media that Iranian forces shot down the aircraft during a patrol mission, declaring that the US "must, necessarily, respond to this attack."
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced it had completed self-defense strikes against Iran, targeting air defense and surveillance radar sites near the strait with precision munitions from Air Force and Navy fighter jets. CENTCOM described the operation as a proportional response to recent attacks on US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi vowed that Tehran would "leave no attack or threat unanswered," urging the US to leave the region to ensure safety. Iranian media reported multiple explosions along the southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz. The incident has severely strained diplomatic efforts, with Trump previously expressing renewed optimism over negotiations before the confrontation.
Additional sources • AFP, AP