Iran fires drones at Kuwait and Bahrain after US strikes; wedding hit kills five

Iran escalated its conflict with the United States on Wednesday by launching drone attacks targeting US allies in the Gulf. Kuwait and Bahrain reported intercepting or dealing with Iranian drones, following a night of American aerial bombardment on Iranian soil.

The US Central Command said its strikes focused on military targets, including air defense sites, radar systems, and maritime assets. However, Iranian officials reported that one strike hit a home hosting a wedding in the coastal town of Kuhestak, near the Strait of Hormuz. At least five people were killed, including a four-year-old and a sixteen-year-old, and dozens were wounded, according to state media. The US military said it never targets civilians, while Iran's government spokesperson called the attack a crime.

Bahrain's Defense Force said its air defenses intercepted several Iranian attacks early Wednesday, accusing Iran of "heinous attacks targeting civilians." Kuwait reported that a drone struck a residential complex in the capital at dawn, causing a fire but no casualties. Iranian state media claimed the drone attacks were aimed at US bases in Bahrain and the UAE.

The escalation follows a US strike on Sunday on Iranian rocket launchers on an island in the Strait of Hormuz, which Washington said were intended to shoot mines into the waterway. Iran retaliated with missiles at US bases in Jordan, all of which were intercepted.

Separately, a Saudi shipping company reported that two Filipino sailors were killed in an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz late Monday. No group claimed responsibility.

The conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil trade, raising energy prices worldwide. Iran and Oman are discussing a framework to manage shipping traffic, but other Gulf nations insist on reopening the strait unconditionally.

In diplomatic efforts, Pakistan said it is engaging with both the US and Iran to bring them to the negotiating table. Pakistani officials met with Iranian leaders on the sidelines of a regional summit, and Pakistan's army chief visited Tehran last week to discuss de-escalation.

Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Egypt, his first Middle East trip since regional conflicts erupted, as Beijing faces US pressure over its economic ties with Iran.

In a separate incident, a man drove a vehicle into a crowd in the Iranian city of Mashhad, killing four people and injuring more than ten. Police detained the driver, with some reports describing it as a road accident.