Iranian military forces claimed responsibility for drone attacks on U.S. military targets in Kuwait on Friday, escalating tensions between the United States and Iran amid concerns about a broader regional conflict. The Iranian statement, carried by state media, identified Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base as the focus of the strikes, which followed recent U.S. military operations in the region.

A U.S. Defense Department official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Iran had launched several projectiles targeting locations primarily in Kuwait but reported no significant damage to U.S. facilities. The Kuwaiti military reported intercepting multiple drones in its airspace, acknowledging some material damage caused by falling debris but no injuries.

The Iranian attacks reportedly responded to a series of U.S. military strikes carried out in the preceding days. On Thursday, U.S. Central Command announced airstrikes against sites in Iran, including military command centers and missile and drone production facilities. These actions followed Iran’s ballistic missile launches targeting American forces in the Middle East.

This exchange of attacks marked a resumption of direct hostilities between Washington and Tehran after months of fluctuating conflict and diplomacy. Alongside the events in Kuwait, other U.S. allies, including Jordan and Saudi Arabia, experienced renewed missile and drone assaults.

For the first time, a drone strike struck Egypt, with authorities reporting an explosion at the Mediterranean port of Damietta on Wednesday. The attack ignited a fire on two ships, one of which was a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker. While the incident did not disrupt traffic through the strategically vital Suez Canal, analysts highlighted the increasing risk of broader disruptions to maritime trade.

The threat to commercial shipping in the Middle East has intensified in recent months, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global energy transport. The Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have also declared a blockade on Saudi vessels and targeted shipping in the Red Sea, emphasizing the expanding geographical scope of maritime hostilities.

In response, Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a multinational coalition aimed at safeguarding regional shipping lanes. The kingdom’s foreign ministry also confirmed joint military strikes with U.S. forces targeting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, which Riyadh accused of conducting attacks on its oil infrastructure. A Saudi official, speaking anonymously, sought to calm concerns in Baghdad, stressing the strikes were narrowly aimed at militia weapons depots and not the Iraqi government or civilians, and that diplomatic avenues had been exhausted prior to the military response.

Meanwhile, tensions have risen in southeastern Europe as the first two U.S. military aircraft, part of a planned deployment to support operations in the Middle East, arrived at Bulgaria’s Bezmer Air Base on Friday. This move drew protests from Iranian officials and demonstrations from local residents. Despite this, the Bulgarian parliament had previously approved the temporary stationing of up to eight KC-135 refueling aircraft, along with personnel and equipment, under a 2006 defense agreement. The deployment is authorized through early October.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova sought to reassure Iran that the deployment would not signify a shift in diplomatic relations or that Bulgarian territory would be used for direct military action related to the conflict.

Since the outbreak of U.S.-Iran hostilities on February 28, at least 18 American service members have been killed. Army Sergeant Sarah Rampersad, 28, who died in Iranian missile fire on a Jordanian base in mid-July, was buried in New York City on Friday. Rampersad, originally from Trinidad, had lived in New York since early childhood.