US military says launched 'wave of strikes' on Iran

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The United States launched a wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said, after Washington reimposed a naval blockade in a return to war between the foes.

US forces “began launching a wave of strikes… designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said on X.

At 6 a.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching a wave of strikes against Iran. The strikes are designed to further degrade military capabilities Iranian forces have used to attack commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 15, 2026

Kuwait, Bahrain say intercepted Iranian attacks

The Gulf monarchies of Kuwait and Bahrain on Wednesday confirmed they had intercepted fresh aerial salvos from Iran as Tehran and Washington exchanged fire over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Kuwait’s military said it was intercepting attack drones, and blamed “nefarious Iranian aggression”, with Bahrain’s army later saying it “succeeded in intercepting and destroying a number of the treacherous Iranian aerial attacks”.

In the early hours of the morning, Bahrain’s interior ministry said it had sounded warning sirens and urged citizens and residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.

Iranian state media reported Wednesday that Iran carried out separate attacks on US targets in Kuwait and on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain after US forces struck the Islamic republic.