Iran says US struck near key Persian Gulf islands as sirens sound in Kuwait

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted a seven-hour operation near the Strait of Hormuz, striking dozens of Iranian military targets, including missile and drone sites, naval assets, and coastal defenses. This action, aimed at reducing Iran's threat to commercial shipping, followed earlier strikes on Tuesday. Iran's Mehr news agency reported activated air defenses near the Bushehr nuclear plant and explosions attributed to clashes in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state media claiming a US projectile hit near a facility on Kish Island. Kuwait's Armed Forces announced they were combating hostile aerial threats, including "missile and drone threats," within their airspace, and later reported an Iranian attack on a navy vessel, injuring four personnel. Despite the military actions, the Trump administration reportedly continues to signal that diplomacy with Iran remains an option, with President Trump stating, "They fired first, and that was a very big mistake."