US downed Iranian missiles, drones; hits radar sites
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- U.S. Central Command said Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain, and U.S. forces intercepted six, with the seventh falling short.
- U.S. forces shot down four Iranian drones earlier that day that were heading toward the Strait of Hormuz, which posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic.
- Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed the missiles targeted the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, which hosts U.S. forces, and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
- Kuwait’s military reported intercepting missiles and drones attacking the country.
- U.S. is enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports to pressure Tehran over its control of the Strait of Hormuz, a move that has spiked global energy prices and created political challenges for the Trump administration ahead of the midterm elections.
Why it matters: U.S. and Gulf allies avoid immediate missile damage, while Iran’s aggression fuels the naval blockade, pushing global oil prices higher and complicating the Trump administration’s midterm election strategy.
