Over 60 People Hurt in Kuwait as Iran Hits Back at US Strikes

The ceasefire between the US and Iran is now shaky as both countries are launching strikes against each other, raising tension in the area.

On Wednesday morning, Iran fired missiles at a US base in Kuwait. This attack also impacted Kuwait’s airport. One Indian national died, and around 60 other people got injured.

Iran’s missile strike on Kuwait was in response to a US missile attack on an Iranian military ground control station located on Qeshm Island, close to the Strait of Hormuz.

The US also targeted a Botswana-flagged oil tanker that was heading to an Iranian port on Kharg Island. The Central Command reported that the ship did not follow the US blockade on Iranian ports.

Iran Strikes Back

In retaliation, Iran hit Kuwait and Bahrain. Iranian officials stated that the strikes aimed at American airbases and helicopter bases in the region, as well as the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard said these retaliatory strikes “should serve as a lesson” against unprovoked assaults on Iran’s facilities.

The US said that all Iranian attacks on American forces failed because its missiles and drones were either intercepted or missed their targets. But this claim contradicts the report from the Kuwait government about the damage to its airport.

CENTCOM also mentioned that it shot down three Iranian attack drones aimed “towards civilian mariners that were rightfully transiting regional waters.”

Ongoing Tensions

This latest conflict comes three months after the first US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Even though there has been a ceasefire between the US and Iran since 8 April, attempts to reach a lasting peace have not worked out due to disagreements over Iran’s uranium enrichment and control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, both Iran and the US talked about a preliminary agreement to stop hostilities. However, neither side has officially approved or signed the deal.

The latest attack also raises worries that Israel’s growing activities in Lebanon could impact the US-Iran ceasefire.