US-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: US says it 'downed multiple drones' launched by Iran regime targeting American forces in Kuwait

Tensions in the Middle East flared again early Wednesday after Iran launched missiles and drones toward US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain. According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the attacks failed to hit their intended targets, with the missiles either intercepted or breaking apart before impact. The US military later responded with strikes on an Iranian military facility on Qeshm Island.

The night sky over the Gulf lit up as Iranian projectiles headed toward American positions. US air defence systems intercepted the incoming threats near Kuwait City, preventing them from reaching the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait.

The latest exchange marks another escalation in a conflict that has intensified since the United States launched a major military campaign against Iran earlier this year. Since then, both sides have traded attacks, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation. Despite several rounds of mediation and diplomatic outreach, efforts to reduce tensions have yet to produce a breakthrough.

According to US officials, Iran fired missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain, but none reached their targets. Two missiles aimed at Kuwait broke apart mid-flight, while those targeting Bahrain were intercepted by US and Bahraini forces.

The developments came amid reports from Iran's semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies claiming that Tehran had stopped communicating with mediators about extending a ceasefire in its conflict with the US and Israel. President Donald Trump, however, rejected the reports and said negotiations were continuing.

The reports, published by Fars and Tasnim, both considered close to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, surfaced as tensions also rose on Israel's northern front with the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon.

A regional official involved in mediation efforts told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity, that Iran had not communicated with mediators on Tuesday after insisting that a ceasefire in Lebanon must be enforced before negotiations could move forward.

In a separate development, the US military said it had stopped another oil tanker attempting to reach an Iranian port in violation of the American blockade. According to CENTCOM, it was the seventh vessel intercepted while trying to bypass the restrictions.

The Botswana-flagged merchant vessel M/T Lexie was halted after its crew allegedly ignored repeated warnings for 24 hours. CENTCOM said a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship's engine room, disabling the vessel.