A fragile ceasefire appeared to fracture Wednesday night after Iran launched a ballistic missile at a US military base in Kuwait in retaliation for an American operation targeting Iranian drones near the Strait of Hormuz.
The missile was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti air defenses before it could strike its target, according to US military officials.
The attack came just hours after US forces thwarted what CENTCOM described as an Iranian drone threat in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
“This egregious ceasefire violation by the Iranian regime occurred hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones that posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command said Thursday. “All drones were successfully intercepted by US forces which also prevented a sixth drone launch from an Iranian ground control site in Bandar Abbas.”
CENTCOM added that American forces and regional partners remain “vigilant and measured” while continuing to defend US personnel and interests in the region.
The incident marks one of the most serious direct confrontations since the latest round of fighting began and raises fresh questions about whether efforts to stabilize the region can hold.
Kuwait reacted furiously to the missile launch, describing it as a direct assault on its sovereignty.
In a sharply worded statement, Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry called the strike a “blatant violation of sovereignty and security” and said Tehran bore full responsibility for the escalation.
The ministry further condemned what it called “the criminal Iranian attacks that targeted the territory of the state of Kuwait with missiles and drones in a dangerous escalation” and demanded an immediate end to the attacks.
The condemnation quickly spread across the Gulf.
Neighboring Gulf Cooperation Council members rallied behind Kuwait, with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all issuing statements denouncing the strike.
The UAE delivered one of the strongest rebukes, characterizing Iran’s missile launch as a “terrorist attack” and warning against further escalation.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, handling a significant share of global oil shipments. Any sustained disruption or military escalation in the area could have major implications for international energy markets and regional security.
Watch the clip below:
JUST IN: CENTCOM reports Iran violated the ceasefire by firing a ballistic missile toward Kuwait, successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces. This came hours after Iranian forces launched five one-way attack drones threatening the Strait of Hormuz, all intercepted by U.S. forces.… pic.twitter.com/D4RxQR5Ore
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) May 28, 2026
