In the Gulf Region, a 'Serious Escalation'

Bahrain's government said on Saturday that Iran fired ballistic missiles and drones toward it and Kuwait. The nation's Foreign Ministry said they'd been intercepted and called on Iran to immediately cease attacks on its Gulf neighbors, per the AP. Kuwait's Foreign Ministry called the attacks a "serious escalation" and a "flagrant violation of its sovereignty." It said on Saturday that it reserves the right to defend itself. The statements came hours after the US military said it shot down Iranian ballistic missiles and drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf Arab allies on Friday, while striking some of the Islamic Republic's coastal surveillance radar sites in response, an exchange of fire that further frayed a shaky ceasefire with Tehran.

The exchange of strikes comes as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Iran to make a deal to end the conflict. US Central Command said on social media on Friday night that Iran fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain, with US forces intercepting six of the missiles and a seventh failing to reach its target. The military said there were no reports of harm to US personnel. The ballistic missiles were fired after the US earlier in the day shot down four Iranian drones that were launched toward the Strait of Hormuz. "The attack drones posed an immediate threat to regional maritime traffic," US Central Command said on social media.

Kuwait's military said forces were intercepting missiles and drones attacking the country, while Bahrain activated air raid sirens and told residents to move to the nearest safe location and follow official instructions. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it targeted the Ali Al Salem Air Base, which hosts US forces in Kuwait, and the US Navy's 5th Fleet in the tiny Gulf island nation of Bahrain, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. The US military is enforcing a blockade on Iranian ports in response to Tehran's chokehold on the crucial corridor for global oil and natural gas shipments, which has sent energy prices spiking and posed political problems for President Trump's Republican Party ahead of the midterm elections in November. More here.