Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace and intercepted what it described as ‘hostile aerial targets’ on Thursday, as the fallout from US strikes on Iran spread rapidly across the Gulf. Bahrain reported that its air defence systems had destroyed incoming Iranian aerial attacks, and Israel’s Home Front Command warned of launches from Lebanon toward communities in northern Israel.
The closures and interceptions followed overnight US military action ordered by President Donald Trump, with US Central Command (Centcom) confirming that strikes were completed at 9:04 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Centcom said it hit Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites, and that US forces had targeted Iranian positions that ‘posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters.’
Iran Claims Strikes on US Bases After US Strikes on Iran
Iran’s state-run Tasnim news agency reported that Iran ‘struck and destroyed eighteen important targets’ belonging to US forces at Kuwait’s Ali Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber air bases, as well as the Sheikh Issa air base in Bahrain. Kuwait reopened its airspace after several hours. The media adviser to Bahrain’s king said the country’s air defence systems had ‘intercepted and destroyed’ the attacks, and Bahrain’s interior ministry had earlier urged civilians to move to a safe place.
Iranian state media also reported that Iran had targeted US ships in the Strait of Hormuz with missiles and drones. That report was followed by Reuters reporting that Iran’s top military command had completely closed the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any vessel attempting to cross would be targeted.
The Strait closure did not come without warning. According to the Congressional Research Service, Iranian forces declared the Strait formally ‘closed’ starting on 4 March 2026, threatening and carrying out attacks on ships attempting to transit. That declaration had already introduced a new and dangerous dimension to the conflict well before this week’s exchange of strikes.
Earlier still, Iran’s parliament had voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, a move that predated President Trump announcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, according to U.S. Naval Institute News. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, through which a large share of global oil supplies passes.
Trump Speaks Directly With Iranian Officials as Markets React
Trump told Fox News that he had spoken directly with Iranian officials, who he said asked him to stop the strikes. He said the bombing would stop shortly and that Israel was not involved, though he left open the possibility of further military action. When asked whether a ceasefire was over, Trump reportedly said it was ‘the most violated ceasefire in history.’
Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had warned publicly that the US would hit Iran ‘very hard’ again. Speaking at a White House signing event for the Secure America Act, he said: ‘We hit them hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit them hard again today. We’re going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard.’ He added that Iran ‘should sign the deal’ and that the US wants an agreement ‘that’s meaningful and works.’
In response, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the national security commission in Iran’s parliament, wrote on X that ‘this time, the war won’t be limited to the region.’
Financial markets moved sharply on the news. US crude climbed nearly 2% to $89.72 per barrel and Brent rose 1.3% to $92.74, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 600 points following Trump’s remarks. Trump insisted that once military operations conclude, oil prices will return to pre-war levels. Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy, told CNBC earlier this week that oil could hit $150 per barrel within the next couple of months if the fighting continues, as inventories are now at very low levels.
The current round of strikes was itself a response to an earlier incident: Centcom said Tuesday’s action was ‘in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter.’ Iran has not directly claimed responsibility for bringing down the helicopter. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that no offensive military operations had been carried out in the Strait in the 24 hours prior to that report. The Iranian Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
