US completes 'major' wave of strikes on Iran, Gulf states under attack

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that it completed its latest major wave of strikes against Iran, while Kuwaiti and Qatari defence forces reported intercepting missile attacks early on Friday.

In a post on social media X, the US forces stated that it hit dozens of Iranian military targets in its sixth consecutive night of strikes. 

The targets included coastal surveillance and air defence sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities, that were hit by US fighter jets, aerial drones, and warships, CENTCOM specified.

The US military also noted that more than 50,000 US service members remain operating across the Middle East. 

For the first time since a memorandum of understanding paused fighting last month, two big waves of U.S. air strikes hit Iran in a single day on Wednesday, mostly aimed at its southern coast.

Kuwait's army forces and Qatar's Ministry of Defence both stated that they were responding to missile and drone attacks early on Friday. Bahrain also activated its sirens and alerted its public to remain cautious. 

Kuwait reported late on Thursday that it had intercepted 32 drones, resulting in debris falling in several residential areas and causing material damage, with no injuries recorded.

The US Marines had boarded a vessel in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday for "verification", US Central Command said in a post on X.

The military added that the US has also redirected three commercial vessels trying to run its blockade of Iranian ports and disabled another to ensure compliance with the blockade.