U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces operating in the Middle East intercepted the drones before they could threaten maritime traffic moving through one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.

“Earlier today, U.S. forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X, adding that U.S. forces remained prepared to defend against what it described as Iranian aggression.

The incident followed another military exchange less than 24 hours earlier. CENTCOM said on Friday that American forces had shot down four Iranian attack drones launched toward the strait before conducting retaliatory strikes against Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites.

The latest actions underscore the growing risk to commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with global energy markets. Any disruption to shipping in the narrow waterway has the potential to affect international trade flows and energy supplies.

Saturday’s drone interceptions came amid a broader deterioration in regional security conditions. Earlier in the day, Iran launched missiles toward Bahrain and Kuwait, according to reports cited by regional officials, expanding the geographical scope of hostilities and drawing renewed concern from Gulf states.

The exchanges represent the latest chapter in an escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, even as both sides continue indirect diplomatic contacts aimed at exploring possible pathways toward ending the confrontation.

The juxtaposition of military operations and ongoing negotiations highlights the complexity of the current crisis, with diplomatic engagement proceeding alongside repeated battlefield escalations.

Neither Tehran nor Washington has indicated any immediate willingness to scale back military activities, raising concerns among regional governments and international shipping operators that further incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz could increase tensions and heighten risks to maritime security.

The latest drone interceptions reinforce the central role of the waterway in the broader U.S.-Iran confrontation, as both sides continue to test each other’s military capabilities while seeking leverage in parallel diplomatic discussions.

Bahrain said seven missiles fired by Iran toward Bahrain and Kuwait were intercepted, describing the attack as “blatant aggression” and urging Tehran to immediately halt strikes against Gulf neighbors. Kuwait’s military also reported intercepting incoming missiles and drones.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it targeted Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces, and the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain.

The attacks came hours after U.S. Central Command said it intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles and drones launched toward Gulf allies and the Strait of Hormuz, while carrying out retaliatory strikes against Iranian coastal radar installations.

Washington said the Iranian drones posed an immediate threat to maritime traffic through the strategic waterway, a key route for global oil and gas shipments. The latest exchange has further strained a fragile ceasefire and intensified pressure on Tehran as the Trump administration seeks a broader agreement to end the conflict.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued statements denouncing the strikes and expressing solidarity with Kuwait and Bahrain.

The GCC called the attacks an “unacceptable hostile policy,” while Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the strikes represented a dangerous escalation threatening regional and international security.

Iran claimed responsibility for attacks on U.S. military assets in Kuwait and Bahrain, including facilities linked to the U.S. Fifth Fleet. Kuwaiti authorities said missile strikes caused significant damage at Kuwait International Airport, temporarily disrupting operations before flights resumed later in the day.

Kuwait said one person was killed and several others were injured after Iranian attacks struck civilian and vital infrastructure, including Kuwait International Airport. The foreign ministry said the assault caused damage to key facilities and diplomatic missions, while air traffic was temporarily suspended before operations resumed later from Terminal 4 following safety assessments.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had targeted the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, an airbase and military helicopters in a Gulf state, describing the operation as retaliation for what it called a U.S. strike on a communications tower south of Qeshm Island.

The U.S. military rejected Iran’s account, saying its forces intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and drones launched toward Kuwait and Bahrain before conducting strikes on Qeshm Island. U.S. Central Command said no Iranian projectiles reached their intended targets.

Iranian media reported explosions near Qeshm Island, located close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, while Tehran also accused U.S. forces of striking an Iranian tanker near the waterway. The IRGC said it subsequently targeted a vessel identified as Panaya with missiles.

The renewed hostilities followed reports from Iranian media that communication with international mediators over extending a ceasefire framework had stalled. However, U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed suggestions that talks had ceased, saying discussions with Tehran had continued in recent days.

Trump also reiterated that negotiations remained active and urged Iran to reach an agreement, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers that any sanctions relief would depend on Tehran abandoning its nuclear activities.The confrontation comes amid a broader regional conflict that began in late February following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Although Washington and Tehran announced a tentative framework last week aimed at ending the war, no final agreement has been reached.The conflict has increasingly intersected with fighting between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement.

Iranian officials have linked any lasting truce to a reduction in hostilities in Lebanon, while the United States and Israel maintain the two issues are separate.Iran continues to seek sanctions relief, access to frozen oil revenues and eased restrictions affecting its energy exports, while Washington says preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains its primary objective.

The latest military exchanges have further heightened concerns over security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy corridor that previously handled roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, with disruptions continuing to affect shipping, trade and humanitarian supply chains across multiple regions.

The ruling marks one of the most significant judicial actions taken by Bahrain in recent months against individuals accused of maintaining links with Iranian security organizations amid heightened regional tensions between Gulf states and Tehran.

According to the report carried by the Bahrain News Agency, the defendants were convicted of gathering information on sensitive locations within Bahrain and facilitating financial transfers connected to the alleged activities.

The court said the defendants had collaborated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, commonly known as the IRGC, which Bahrain and several of its regional partners have repeatedly accused of supporting activities that threaten Gulf security.

The verdict follows an announcement by Bahrain’s Interior Ministry on May 9 that security forces had arrested 41 individuals allegedly linked to the IRGC. Authorities said investigations uncovered a network connected to the Iranian organization, while prosecutors were also examining cases involving expressions of support for Iranian military actions.

Bahraini officials have not publicly disclosed the identities of those convicted, nor have they released detailed information regarding the specific locations targeted or the extent of the alleged intelligence-gathering activities.

Relations between Bahrain and Iran have long been strained by security disputes, accusations of interference and broader geopolitical rivalries across the Gulf region.

The latest convictions come amid increased regional scrutiny of alleged IRGC-linked activities following months of heightened military and diplomatic tensions involving Iran, Israel, Gulf Arab states and the United States.

Bahrain hosts the headquarters of the United States Fifth Fleet and is a close security partner of Washington, making the island kingdom a strategically important player in Gulf security architecture.

Authorities have not indicated whether additional prosecutions related to the May arrests are expected.

More than 2.4 million Filipino workers are employed across the Middle East, primarily in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, in sectors ranging from healthcare and hospitality to retail and domestic work. Their remittances account for roughly 10 percent of the Philippine economy, making the regional downturn a major concern for households dependent on overseas income.

The conflict, now in its third month, has triggered uncertainty across Gulf economies reliant on expatriate labor. Filipinos interviewed by Arab News described abrupt job losses, shrinking work opportunities and financial stress amid declining business activity and security fears.

A Filipino domestic worker in Dubai, identified only as Cinderella, said she lost stable employment after the Syrian family she worked for left the UAE because of the conflict.

“The money I raise from my part-time work is not enough,” she said, adding that she often reduced herself to one meal a day to save money while struggling to cover rent and basic expenses.

Another Filipino worker, Kim, said she was among roughly 200 employees laid off from a luxury hotel in Doha as the hospitality sector contracted amid weaker business activity.

“The hotel was cutting employees because of the situation,” she said, adding that the company anticipated reduced operations due to the conflict.
Although the hotel later offered to reverse her termination, Kim said she chose to return permanently to the Philippines after spending more than a decade working in the Gulf.

Others said the instability accelerated plans already underway to relocate home. Tere, a Filipino resident in Bahrain, said suspended projects and weakening business conditions influenced her family’s decision to settle permanently in Manila.

Despite the downturn, remittances from the Middle East still rose slightly in the first quarter of 2026 to $1.55 billion from $1.49 billion a year earlier, according to figures cited in the report.

The Philippine government said more than 11,000 Filipinos have sought assistance through repatriation programs since the conflict intensified, including around 4,500 from the UAE, more than 2,200 from Kuwait, and nearly 1,000 each from Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Hans Leo Cacdac, secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers, said many returning workers still hoped to go back once regional conditions stabilized, with roughly 70 percent expressing interest in returning to Gulf jobs after the conflict.
The Philippine government has introduced emergency support measures including financial assistance, psychosocial support, livelihood programs and healthcare services for displaced workers. Filipinos who lost jobs but remain in the region are eligible for one-time assistance payments of $200 under crisis-response programs operating in 10 Middle Eastern countries.
For some workers, however, returning home remains financially difficult despite the instability. Cinderella said she planned to remain in Dubai for now after recently securing cleaning work, though she hoped eventually to move to Cairo, where she previously worked for a decade.

Bahrain’s Public Prosecution said the defendants were found guilty of “supporting and endorsing Iranian terrorist attacks on the Kingdom, obtaining and broadcasting prohibited vital data, and photographing prohibited locations,” the agency reported.

Several of the convicted individuals were also fined 2,000 Bahraini dinars ($5,300), while the court ordered the permanent deportation of three defendants following completion of their prison terms.

Authorities did not publicly disclose additional details about the defendants, the alleged attacks or the timeframe of the offenses.

The convictions come amid heightened regional tensions involving Iran and Gulf Arab states, as Bahrain continues to maintain close security ties with Western allies and neighboring Gulf countries.

Bahrain has previously accused Iran-backed groups of destabilizing activities inside the kingdom, allegations Tehran has repeatedly denied.

The island nation hosts the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and remains a key regional security partner for Washington amid ongoing instability across the Gulf.

Speaking at the Tel Aviv Conference in Tel Aviv, Huckabee said Israel had assisted the UAE’s air defenses amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing uncertainty surrounding the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel.

“Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them,” Huckabee said, praising the UAE as the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
The UAE did not immediately comment on Huckabee’s remarks.

The disclosure underscores increasingly open military coordination between Israel and Gulf Arab states that share concerns over Iran’s regional influence and missile capabilities.

Regional tensions remain elevated despite the current ceasefire, with concerns continuing over security in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route long viewed as vulnerable to disruption during confrontations involving Tehran.

Huckabee also expressed optimism that additional Middle Eastern countries could join the Abraham Accords, which established formal diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab states, including Bahrain.

The accords, brokered in 2020, reshaped regional alignments by fostering economic, diplomatic and security ties between Israel and Arab governments concerned about Iran’s expanding influence.

However, broader normalization efforts across the Arab world have been complicated by Israel’s military operations following the Hamas-led attacks in 2023 and the continuing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

Huckabee said Gulf governments increasingly viewed Iran, rather than Israel, as the more immediate regional security threat.

In a statement published on X, Aboul Gheit said continued escalation risked undermining ongoing mediation and diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving regional crises through political channels. He did not identify the parties responsible for the attacks.

The Arab League chief also expressed solidarity with Bahrain after Bahraini authorities announced the arrest of individuals allegedly linked to foreign entities accused of attempting to destabilize the kingdom’s security and internal stability.

The remarks come as regional tensions remain elevated amid the broader fallout from the conflict involving Iran and mounting security concerns among Gulf states over attacks on infrastructure, maritime routes and sovereign territory.

Aboul Gheit reiterated the Arab League’s support for measures adopted by Gulf governments to safeguard national sovereignty and maintain regional stability, according to the statement.

The comments were issued against the backdrop of intensified diplomatic activity across the Middle East, with regional and international actors seeking to contain the spillover risks of the Iran-related conflict and prevent further disruptions to Gulf security and shipping corridors.

Bahrain’s interior ministry said in a statement that the operation stemmed from ongoing investigations into espionage activities and alleged cooperation with foreign entities.“In accordance with previous investigations carried out by the prosecutor’s office in cases of espionage on behalf of foreign entities and sympathy for Iranian aggression, the security services dismantled an organization linked to the Revolutionary Guards,” the ministry said.

The statement added that 41 individuals had been detained but provided no further details regarding their identities, nationalities or the specific accusations against them.The arrests come during a period of intensified security measures across Gulf states after Iranian attacks targeting regional infrastructure and military facilities in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet and remains one of Washington’s closest security partners in the Gulf, making it strategically significant in the wider regional confrontation.Authorities in Manama have increasingly tightened restrictions on expressions of support for Tehran since the conflict escalated earlier this year.

Last month, Bahrain revoked the citizenship of 69 people accused of publicly supporting Iran.The alleged group was accused of links to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the powerful branch of Iran’s armed forces that oversees the country’s missile programs and regional security operations.

Bahrain has long accused Iran of backing unrest and militant activity within the kingdom, allegations Tehran has repeatedly denied.The latest arrests are likely to deepen already strained relations between Gulf Arab states and Iran as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a broader regional de-escalation agreement.