The US military had shot down Iranian drones over the Strait of Hormuz, an escalation in hostilities that dampened hopes for a peace deal and sent oil prices surging again. The Iranian drones posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz, according to US officials, the key waterway that the Iranian regime has effectively choked off.

U.S. forces confirmed that American forces successfully intercepted five one-way attack drones launched from Iran that were considered a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz.

American forces shot down the Iranian drones and prevented a sixth drone launch from an Iranian ground control site, according to U.S. Central Command officials. Centcom described its actions as “measured and defensive.”

It also said its forces shot down the Iranian one-way attack drones that officials ⁠believed “posed a clear threat in and near the Strait of Hormuz.” Earlier, the U.S. Central Command confirmed that Iran launched on May 27, at 10:17 p.m. ET, a ballistic missile toward Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces.

The latest operation comes amid ongoing negotiations aimed at ending the conflict that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed up global energy prices.

The conflict escalated sharply on Thursday (May 28) after Kuwait said it was targeted with a missile and drone attack, following renewed Iranian threats around the Strait of Hormuz.

From its side, US Central Command (Centcom) said Iran launched a ballistic missile toward Kuwait that was successfully intercepted by Kuwaiti forces, calling it an “egregious ceasefire violation” by Tehran.

Kuwait’s military confirms missile and drone attacks

In a brief statement posted on X, Kuwait’s military confirmed that its air defences had been activated amid the rapidly worsening regional situation. “Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks,” the country’s armed forces said. The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirmed that any explosion sounds heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks.

Kuwait’s military officially made the announcement, without providing further details on what had been targeted.

The latest statement adds to growing tensions around Kuwait and the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains a critical route for global energy shipments and has become a flashpoint amid the ongoing US-Iran hostilities.

U.S. president Donald Trump has repeatedly said the end of the war ⁠is close but told media at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the United States will not accept a subpar deal.

Speaking during the Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump ‌said no single country would have control over the waterway, and rejected the idea of any short-term arrangement that would allow Iran and Oman to oversee the Strait.

“Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved – directly or indirectly – in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday on X.

UAE condemns Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Kuwait

The UAE on Thursday issued a strong condemnation of Iran’s use of missiles and drones against Kuwait, labelling the strikes as acts of terrorism.

In a statement, the ministry of foreign affairs said, “The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms terrorist drone and missile attacks by Iran targeting the State of Kuwait.”

The Ministry further affirmed that “these terrorist attacks constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of Kuwait and a threat to its security and stability.”

The UAE also expressed its full solidarity with Kuwait, pledging support for all measures aimed at preserving its security and stability.

EU top diplomat urges parties to stop war, open Hormuz, and then negotiate nuclear

EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy Kaja Kallas warned Thursday that it was in no one’s interest for the US war with Iran to continue.

“They are right now in between this very dangerous zone of war and peace, and it is not in anybody’s interest that this war continues,” Kallas told reporters at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Cyprus.

“What we hear from the regional partners is that they are very close to the deal,” she continued. “But we have heard that for quite some time already, and of course we were expecting the signature to this first agreement. Because let’s be clear, first agreement is to stop the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, and then negotiate on the difficult tasks, like the nuclear. And there Europe can also contribute, as we have the experts.”