UAE condemns Iranian attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan

An explosion was heard near Qeshm Island in southern Iran on Wednesday, semi-official Mehr News reported, citing local sources.

The report said the cause was not immediately clear, adding that the sound may have come from a distant blast or activity in the Strait of Hormuz.

The governor of Qeshm said later that no explosion had occurred on the island and that the blast sound heard in the area did not originate there.

Iran’s overnight missile and drone operation against the US regional bases hit 70% of its targets, IRGC-linked Fars News reported on Wednesday, citing a military source.

The source said the assessment was based on “satellite images and information sent by field sources to Iran’s foreign intelligence service.”

Long-range ballistic missiles and drones passed through air defense systems at US bases and hit pre-selected targets in Azraq, Jordan, Ali Al Salem in Kuwait and the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain, according to the report.

Reuters reported earlier citing initial US assessments that nearly all of the missiles and drones launched by Iran at US military facilities in the region were intercepted.

A cargo vessel exchanged fire with a small craft carrying six armed people southwest of Balhaf, Yemen, on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.

UKMTO said the small craft turned away after the exchange with the cargo vessel’s armed security team.

Authorities were investigating, and vessels were advised to transit with caution and report suspicious activity.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he held separate phone calls with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan overnight to discuss regional developments after US strikes on southern Iran.

Araghchi condemned the US strikes in the calls and said they violated Iran’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He said Iran had an inherent right to self-defense and to a reciprocal response by its armed forces.

Nearly all of the missiles and drones launched by Iran at US military facilities in the region were intercepted, Reuters reported citing initial US assessments.

A US official told the news agency that at least four ballistic missiles and several drones were fired at US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Initial assessments indicated that nearly all were successfully intercepted.

The official said the United States struck nearly 20 targets inside Iran in response to the downing of a helicopter.