Iran launched missile and drone attacks targeting US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday, describing the strikes as retaliation for a US attack on Iran’s Qeshm Island earlier. Iran’s Armed Forces said they targeted the US Fifth Fleet and a US air base in the region in response to what they called US strikes on an Iranian telecommunications antenna and oil tanker, adding that the operation fulfilled a previously issued warning of a “more severe” response.

Kuwait’s military said its air defence systems were actively intercepting hostile missiles and drones early Wednesday, after residents across the country reported hearing loud explosions amid escalating tensions in the Gulf.

In an initial statement, the Kuwaiti Army’s General Staff said air defences were “currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks” and clarified that any explosion sounds heard by the public were the result of interception operations carried out by the country’s defence systems.

As the situation unfolded, the military issued a second public warning, urging citizens and residents not to approach or touch any debris, shrapnel, or unidentified objects that may have fallen as a result of intercepting hostile aerial targets. Officials warned that such remnants could pose a serious risk to public safety.