Middle East crisis live: Kuwait reports missile and drone attack; US says it struck Iran radar sites over weekend | US-Israel war on Iran
US says Iran’s radar and command and control facilities were hit over the weekend
US central command (Centcom) said in a statement minutes after announcing that Kuwait was under attack that it hit targets in Iran over the weekend.
Tag your actions “The US said it struck Iran’s “radar and unmanned aerial vehicle command and control sites in Göruk, Iran and Qeshm Island” in self-defense.
Centcom said the attack was in response to “aggressive actions by Iran,” including “the shooting down of a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating over international waters.”
The US strikes mark the third violation of the ceasefire between Iran and America since it was agreed in early April. On both previous occasions, Tehran and Washington downplayed the importance of mutual strikes and the ceasefire was able to continue.
The latest action comes amid diplomatic wrangling between the Trump administration and Iranian leadership over a permanent ceasefire and the return of ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
important events
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted an air base used by the United States to launch an attack on Sirik Island in southern Iran, according to a statement in Iranian media.
Sirik Island is located in the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC said the US targeted a telecommunications tower on the island.
More from the Kuwaiti military announcing that its air defenses thwarted missile and drone attacks.
“The General Staff would like to inform you that the explosion sounds heard are the result of air defense systems blocking these hostile attacks.”
State news agency Kuna reported that air raid sirens were sounded across the Gulf country.
US says Iran’s radar and command and control facilities were hit over the weekend
US central command (Centcom) said in a statement minutes after announcing that Kuwait was under attack that it hit targets in Iran over the weekend.
Tag your actions “The US said it struck Iran’s “radar and unmanned aerial vehicle command and control sites in Göruk, Iran and Qeshm Island” in self-defense.
Centcom said the attack was in response to “aggressive actions by Iran,” including “the shooting down of a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating over international waters.”
The US strikes mark the third violation of the ceasefire between Iran and America since it was agreed in early April. On both previous occasions, Tehran and Washington downplayed the importance of mutual strikes and the ceasefire was able to continue.
The latest action comes amid diplomatic wrangling between the Trump administration and Iranian leadership over a permanent ceasefire and the return of ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Summary
Hello and welcome to the Guardian’s ongoing coverage of the crisis in the Middle East.
After the United States announced an attack on radar and control sites in Iran over the weekend, Kuwait’s military said the country’s air defenses were currently intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks. Kuwaiti state media reported sirens went off across the country on Monday morning.
Minutes after Kuwait was reported to have been attacked, US central command (Centcom) said it had launched “attacks on Iranian radar and unmanned aerial vehicle command and control sites” over the weekend.
The measured and deliberate attacks took place on Saturday and Sunday in response to aggressive actions by Iran, including the downing of a US MQ-1 drone operating over international waters. “U.S. warplanes responded quickly by eliminating Iranian air defenses, a ground control station, and two unidirectional attack aircraft that posed a clear threat to ships passing through regional waters.”
Kuwait was one of several Gulf states that faced weeks of retaliatory attacks from Iran after the United States and Israel launched a war in February. The ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran in April has largely continued since then.
