US forces shot down four Iranian attack drones near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting an apparent Iranian retaliatory strike on an American airbase in Kuwait, US officials said. The US also targeted a ground control station in Iran's Bandar Abbas that was about to launch a fifth drone. Officials described the actions as 'measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire.'
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that the Revolutionary Guards targeted an American base in Kuwait in retaliation. Kuwait's army confirmed its air defenses were intercepting hostile missile and drone threats early Thursday morning. Separately, Iranian forces fired at four ships attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz without coordination, according to IRIB.
President Donald Trump accused Iran of stalling peace talks to 'outwait' him until the US midterm elections. At a White House cabinet meeting, Trump threatened to 'finish the job' if Tehran does not agree to a deal, and warned Oman to cooperate on the Strait of Hormuz or face consequences. The White House did not clarify if Trump had misspoken.
In Lebanon, Israel launched broad strikes and declared a large area of the south a new combat zone. The Israeli military said it struck 550 targets since the beginning of the week, a significant increase. Hezbollah described close-quarters combat with Israeli forces in a strategic town beyond an Israeli-declared 'yellow line.'
Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the military is 'deepening its operation' in Lebanon. Hezbollah has vowed to fight until the war ends and Israel withdraws from southern Lebanon. More than 1.2 million Lebanese have been displaced. Israel issued further evacuation warnings for residents of Tyre early Thursday.
