Iran launches ballistic missiles at Bahrain, Kuwait after US hits its radar sites

Iran launched a salvo of missiles at US allies Bahrain and Kuwait on Saturday after fresh American strikes, drawing a furious response from the Gulf monarchies and further straining a fragile truce.

Weeks of indirect talks marked by tit-for-tat threats and sporadic exchanges of fire have failed to secure a deal to end the Middle East war or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for Gulf oil and gas shipments.

Iran's foreign ministry said the US early Saturday attacked surveillance facilities on Qeshm Island and near Sirik that it said were used to protect borders and “ensure the security of navigation in international waters." Tehran called the attack a violation of the fragile ceasefire.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces first shot down four Iranian attack drones launched toward the strait. It then struck the Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites, CENTCOM said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said early Saturday they had responded by targeting "enemy bases in the area" with missiles. 

The Revolutionary Guard said it targeted the Ali Al Salem air base, which hosts US forces in Kuwait, and the US Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. The US military said there were no reports of harm to US personnel.

CENTCOM said Iran had launched seven ballistic missiles towards Bahrain and Kuwait, but that six had been intercepted and one had fallen short.

Bahrain denounced the latest attacks, the second against both nations in a matter of days, 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 country's international airport, which had been struck on Wednesday in an attack blamed on Iran that killed one person.

"We woke up to a huge explosion," said Reem, an Egyptian mother of two. "My children were terrified, and I couldn't calm them down."

'Flagrant violations'

A ceasefire in the war – which was triggered almost 100 days ago by US and Israeli strikes – has been in place since April 8, despite the occasional flare-ups.

Iran's foreign ministry denounced the latest US strikes as "flagrant" violations, while condemning Washington's "hostile and provocative behaviour".

Efforts to turn the truce into a lasting settlement have repeatedly stalled, while the conflict has rattled global markets and increased pressure on US President Donald Trump at home ahead of midterm elections.