WASHINGTON: The U.S. military said it shot down two Iranian attack drones over the Strait of Hormuz late Saturday, the latest escalation in a series of confrontations between the two powers as diplomatic efforts to end wider hostilities stall.
U.S. Central Command said on social media that American forces in the Middle East intercepted “two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.” CENTCOM added that U.S. forces “remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression.”
The downings came a day after U.S. forces shot down four Iranian drones launched toward the strait and struck Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites in retaliation. On Saturday, Iran also launched a salvo of missiles at U.S. allies Bahrain and Kuwait, according to officials.
The tit-for-tat attacks mark the 100th day since the United States and Israel launched initial strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, an operation dubbed “Epic Fury.” Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and U.S. military assets in the Gulf, triggering weeks of heavy fighting.
A temporary Pakistan-mediated cease-fire took effect April 8, but direct peace talks in Islamabad collapsed four days later. Since then, the two sides have exchanged proposals through Pakistani intermediaries. Several cease-fire attempts have failed, including a conditional truce announced after Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington this week that was swiftly rejected by Hezbollah.
On Saturday, the Lebanese military reported that an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon killed three of its soldiers.
Negotiations between Washington and Tehran have continued for weeks, with Al Jazeera reporting that the two sides have come close to a deal on several occasions. However, a cease-fire originally slated for April was never implemented, and officials warn that full-scale fighting could resume.
The ongoing clashes underscore the fragility of regional security as multiple conflicts intersect and diplomatic efforts struggle to gain traction.
