US says shot down Iran drones in fresh escalation

Washington, Jun 7: The United States has said it shot down a pair of Iranian drones threatening the Strait of Hormuz, the latest escalation of violence as the war enters its 100th day with no end in sight.

Weeks of indirect talks marked by tit-for-tat threats and sporadic exchanges of fire have failed to secure a deal to end the conflict or reopen the vital waterway, a chokepoint for Gulf oil and gas shipments.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it destroyed two Iranian drones “that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz”, hours after announcing it struck four other drones and coastal surveillance radar sites.

Tehran yesterday responded with a salvo of missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait, drawing a furious response from the Gulf monarchies and piling pressure on a shaky ceasefire agreed on 8 April.

CENTCOM said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Bahrain and Kuwait, with six intercepted and one falling short. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted “enemy bases in the area” with missiles.

Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, denounced the latest attacks as “blatant aggression”, while Kuwait said they “represent a dangerous escalation”.

In Bahrain’s capital Manama, three explosions were heard as air raid sirens sounded.

In Kuwait, repeated blasts were heard near the international airport, where a Wednesday strike blamed on Iran killed one person.

“We woke up to a huge explosion,” said Reem, a mother of two. “My children were terrified, and I couldn’t calm them down.” (AFP)