Kuwait’s foreign ministry said in a statement it condemned the “criminal Iranian attacks” targeting the country with missiles and drones, calling the incident a “dangerous escalation.” The statement came after Kuwait’s military announced that air defense systems had intercepted and destroyed hostile aerial threats over the country.

The Kuwaiti army did not initially identify the source of the projectiles, but said explosions heard across parts of the country resulted from interception operations carried out by air defense units. Authorities urged residents to comply with official security and safety instructions.

The U.S. military later described the incident as a serious breach of the ceasefire framework that has largely held since April. United States Central Command said in a statement that the missile strike on Kuwait represented an “egregious ceasefire violation.”

CENTCOM added that Iranian forces had earlier launched five one-way attack drones posing threats in and near the Strait of Hormuz. According to the U.S. military, all five drones were intercepted by American forces, which also prevented the launch of a sixth drone.

Iran acknowledged that U.S. forces had struck what Washington described as an Iranian drone operation threatening military assets and commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said it subsequently targeted a U.S. air base at approximately 4:50 a.m. GMT following what it characterized as an earlier American strike near Bandar Abbas airport, though Iranian authorities did not specify the location of the base.

The latest exchanges mark one of the most serious escalations since a ceasefire took effect following the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran earlier this year. Despite a reduction in large-scale hostilities since April, Gulf states have continued to report intermittent drone incursions and missile threats originating from regional flashpoints, including Iraq.

Saudi Arabia condemned the attacks through its foreign ministry, denouncing what it called the continuation of “treacherous Iranian attacks” against Kuwait. The United Arab Emirates also issued a statement condemning what it described as “terrorist drone and missile attacks” targeting Kuwaiti territory, calling them a violation of Kuwait’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.

Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Al-Budaiwi said the continued attacks violated international law, the United Nations Charter and principles of good-neighborly relations.

The developments come as diplomatic efforts continue over a possible U.S.-Iran understanding aimed at extending the ceasefire and reopening negotiations surrounding Tehran’s nuclear program, though uncertainty remains over the durability of the truce amid continued military activity across the Gulf.

Medics said Israeli aircraft targeted two checkpoints operated by the Hamas-run police force in Khan Younis, killing three policemen and three civilians, including a girl, and wounding four others.

The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes.Local health authorities said more than 680 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect in November, underscoring persistent hostilities despite the agreement.

The total death toll in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023 has surpassed 72,000, according to officials in the territory.The latest strikes come as Israel remains engaged in a broader regional conflict, including military operations linked to tensions with Iran and ongoing hostilities with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Health officials in Gaza say at least 50 Palestinians have been killed since the escalation involving Iran began roughly a month ago.

Violence has continued intermittently across Gaza during the ceasefire period, with no indication of a sustained de-escalation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Atawi was involved in orchestrating attacks on Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, accusing him of “planning and advancing terrorist activities” targeting soldiers stationed along the northern border.

Atawi, a commander of the group’s armed wing known as the Fajr Forces, was reportedly killed while driving from his residence to his office in the Lebanese capital.

The Fajr Forces had been active during the conflict last year, firing rockets across southern Lebanon into northern Israel. That war, which lasted nearly a year, concluded with a fragile ceasefire agreement. During the fighting, multiple members of the Fajr Forces were killed in Israeli airstrikes.

Despite the ceasefire, Israeli operations have continued across Lebanese territory, primarily targeting Hezbollah militants and weapons depots. Tuesday’s strike marks one of the rare incidents involving Jama’a Islamiya since the truce.

Lebanese authorities, Hezbollah, and Jama’a Islamiya have condemned the ongoing Israeli strikes and the continued occupation of several hilltop positions in southern Lebanon by Israeli troops. They argue such actions violate Lebanon’s sovereignty and the terms of the ceasefire.

Israel maintains that its operations are defensive, aimed at neutralizing threats to its civilian population.

The targeted killing of Atawi is expected to raise tensions along the already volatile Israel-Lebanon border, as regional instability continues to challenge the year-old truce.