US says shot down Iran drones in fresh escalation
America
By
AFP
| Jun 07, 2026
The United States said it shot down a pair of Iranian drones threatening the Strait of Hormuz, the latest escalation of violence as the war crept into its 100th day on Sunday with no end in sight.
Weeks of indirect talks marked by tit-for-tat threats and sporadic exchanges of fire have failed to secure a deal to end the conflict or reopen the vital waterway, a chokepoint for Gulf oil and gas shipments.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it destroyed two Iranian drones "that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz", hours after announcing it struck four other drones and coastal surveillance radar sites.
Tehran responded with a salvo of missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait on Saturday, drawing a furious response from the Gulf monarchies and piling pressure on a shaky ceasefire agreed on April 8.
CENTCOM said Iran launched seven ballistic missiles towards Bahrain and Kuwait, with six intercepted and one falling short. Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had targeted "enemy bases in the area" with missiles.
READ MORE
New AI-driven platform to tackle shrinking budgets
Deal at last! MPs, senators agree to allocate counties Sh428 billion
Kabarak University, NCBA plan to support local entrepreneurs
Weak revenues test Ruto's bid to shift from debt to PPPs
Mbadi's Sh4.8tr budget raises taxes fears amid economic stress
House team warns tonnes of raw sugar import may be harmful
Government urges youth, MSMEs to embrace manufacturing, value addition
Kenya woos Slovak investors at Nairobi forum
How IMF pressure shaped Ruto's tax hikes
Experts and lawyers warn Bill makes KRA judge and executioner
Bahrain, which hosts the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, denounced the latest attacks as "blatant aggression", while Kuwait said they "represent a dangerous escalation".
In Bahrain's capital Manama, an AFP journalist heard three explosions as air raid sirens sounded.
In Kuwait, another AFP journalist heard repeated blasts near the international airport, where a Wednesday strike blamed on Iran killed one person.
"We woke up to a huge explosion," said Reem, a mother of two. "My children were terrified, and I couldn't calm them down."