Image for representation purposes only U.S forces shot down two Iranian attack drones aimed at maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. The recent attack came after CENTCOM announced that Washington had intercepted four drones aimed towards ships in the strategic waterway. CENTCOM added that it is prepared to defend against Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz. The last two weeks saw tit-for-tat measures where U.S forces disabled an Iranian ship and targeted coastal surveillance sites, and Iran responded with a salvo of missiles towards U.S allies Kuwait and Bahrain. The attacks on Gulf neighbours have drawn a furious response and are building enormous pressure on the fragile ceasefire agreed on April 8, 2026. While negotiations are ongoing, no agreement remains in sight. Bahrain, which houses the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, called the Iranian attack “blatant aggression”, while Kuwait said they “represent a dangerous escalation”. Iran has said that US military assets in both countries were attacked after America targeted surveillance facilities on Qeshm Island and near Sirik. These facilities were significant for protecting the Islamic Republic’s borders and ensuring the security of navigation in the Gulf, Iran said, calling U.S attacks a direct violation of the ceasefire agreement. According to the latest reports, Iran has asked the U.S. to release its frozen funds and assets. However, Washington might use those funds to compensate Gulf allies for the damages caused by Iranian attacks. Iran has also insisted that any agreement should also include Lebanon. On June 8, 2026, Lebanon said that an Israeli strike in the south led to the deaths of 3 soldiers, to which Israel responded by saying that they are currently “reviewing the incident”, adding that its campaign in Lebanon was targeting Hezbollah, not government forces. According to the Health Ministry, two women were killed, and 22 people were injured in an Israe