Iran fired missiles and drones toward Kuwait and other U.S.-linked targets across the Middle East on Thursday as Tehran retaliated for American strikes, while President Donald Trump warned that Washington remains prepared to launch additional attacks and Israel threatened devastating action against Iranian infrastructure if it is targeted.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iran widened its retaliation against the United States early Thursday, launching missiles and drones toward Kuwait as the military confrontation between Washington and Tehran spread across the Middle East and raised new concerns about regional escalation.
Kuwaiti air defenses intercepted the incoming weapons after warning sirens sounded across the country, according to Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense.
The ministry characterized the attack as a “blatant Iranian aggression.”
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry separately condemned what it described as “repeated heinous Iranian aggressions,” calling the attacks “a direct threat” to the country’s security, stability and sovereignty.
“The Ministry reiterates its affirmation that the continuation of these brazen aggressions reflects a hostile approach, constitutes a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region, and systematically undermines diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalation and reducing tensions,” the ministry said.
The Kuwait attack was part of a broader Iranian response to U.S. strikes earlier in the week.
Tehran has said its retaliatory operations targeted American assets or facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq.
Bahrain and Jordan said their air-defense systems intercepted several Iranian attacks Wednesday.
The latest escalation followed U.S. strikes against Iran, including an operation Sunday targeting Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz.
American officials said the launchers had been intended for use in deploying mines into the strategically important shipping channel.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States remains prepared to hit Iran again if necessary.
“It was a very heavy attack last night, and we’re prepared to do another one anytime we want,” Trump said.
The president said American forces had destroyed more than Iranian radar systems during the latest operations and praised U.S. military technology.
“We have technology that’s incredible. Nobody has technology like we have. So, we hit them hard last night, very hard. They gave a little love tap, but we hit them very hard,” Trump said.
“We took out all of the new equipment that they tried to build along the Strait of Hormuz, some defensive, some offensive.”
Trump’s comments came after U.S. forces intercepted several Iranian retaliatory attacks.
He has also suggested that the latest phase of the conflict may not continue much longer.
According to a report citing U.S. officials, Trump has privately discussed with senior advisers whether to declare the war with Iran over and has indicated that he favors doing so.
The officials said Trump believes sustained economic pressure could ultimately force Tehran to dismantle its nuclear program or contribute to the collapse of the Iranian government.
When asked about the conflict Wednesday in the Oval Office, Trump returned to the central justification he has repeatedly given for confronting Tehran.
“It’s very simple. Iran could not have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.
“As soon as it’s over, which I don’t think it will be very much longer. I don’t know how much more they can take, but, you know, whatever it is, it doesn’t matter,” Trump added.
Trump also rejected the suggestion that electoral politics were driving his Iran policy.
“Number one, I’m not running, but my party is running and I’m going to help my party,” Trump said. “But I think my party respects the fact that we’re not allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon. And frankly, other presidents should have done that, but they didn’t have whatever it takes to do it.”
The administration has continued an economic pressure campaign intended to force Iran back to negotiations, although Tehran has so far shown no indication that it is prepared to retreat from the confrontation.
The fighting has also increased tension between Iran and Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Thursday that any Iranian attack on Israel would trigger a much broader Israeli response against military and civilian infrastructure.
“An Iranian attack on Israel would free Israel from any existing limitations on attacking Iran,” Katz said.
“We will cripple all of Iran’s national military and civilian infrastructure — including energy infrastructure — and return Iran deep into the Stone Age and darkness,” he added.
Katz said Israel is prepared both offensively and defensively for a potential Iranian strike and that the Israel Defense Forces is ready to respond.
He also said mounting economic pressure inside Iran and fears of domestic unrest could push Tehran toward what he described as “desperate measures.”
The warnings came after Washington and Tehran exchanged their heaviest barrage since July, with the United States striking targets along Iran’s southern coastline and Iran responding against U.S. bases and facilities throughout the region.
The renewed fighting has had an immediate effect on global oil markets.
Brent crude rose 1.7% Thursday to $97.25 a barrel after trading lower earlier in the session.
West Texas Intermediate crude gained 1.9% to $92.71 a barrel.
The rapid increase has brought the international benchmark closer to $100 as traders assess the possibility that a wider conflict could interfere with production or shipping.
Iran has threatened tankers attempting to travel through the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran’s authorization, further restricting movement through the waterway.
Before the war, approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply moved through the strait.
Any sustained disruption could raise the cost of gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel and other petroleum products for businesses and consumers worldwide.
Trump nevertheless indicated Wednesday that he expects the current bombing campaign to be relatively limited in duration.
The broader regional confrontation is also unfolding alongside efforts by Israel and Lebanon to address unresolved issues from their own conflict.
Israel released Lebanese citizen Malek Kamal Ghazi from detention Thursday in the first such handover since the latest war with Iran-backed Hezbollah began six months ago.
Ghazi, who had been captured in October 2025, was transferred by the International Committee of the Red Cross to Lebanese authorities at the Naqoura border crossing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Ghazi was one of five Lebanese citizens scheduled for release after authorities determined that they had no connections to militant organizations.
Lebanese sources said Ghazi and the four other detainees were civilians.
The circumstances surrounding Ghazi’s detention were not immediately clear.
The release comes while Israel and Lebanon negotiate over the remains of Jewish community leaders kidnapped and killed in Lebanon during the mid-1980s.
Netanyahu’s office said the two countries have made several attempts in recent months to locate the remains, including ground operations.
Lebanese sources said 35 Lebanese detainees remained in Israeli custody after Ghazi’s release, including 20 civilians.
Another round of Israeli-Lebanese negotiations is expected in Rome later this month.
Those diplomatic efforts are proceeding against a significantly more volatile regional backdrop as Iran, the United States and Israel trade increasingly direct threats and military action.
For Kuwait, Thursday’s attack represented another expansion of the conflict into neighboring countries that host or support U.S. forces.
Although Kuwaiti defenses intercepted the incoming missiles and drones, the government’s unusually strong condemnation reflected growing concern that Iranian retaliation is moving beyond direct U.S.-Iran exchanges and threatening the sovereignty of other regional states.
With Trump saying American forces can strike again “anytime we want,” Iran continuing to target U.S.-linked positions across the Middle East and Israel threatening to destroy Iranian energy infrastructure if attacked, the conflict remains at risk of spreading even as the White House privately considers whether the war could soon be declared over.
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