The US military said it had repelled a major Iranian missile and drone attack on targets in the Gulf region overnight.
"U.S. forces successfully defeated multiple Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and conducted self-defense strikes on Qeshm Island in response to attempted attacks by Iran across the Middle East, June 2," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.
The US military's information could not initially be independently verified.
Shortly before the US statement was published, Kuwait and the island state of Bahrain had reported missile and drone attacks. Both Gulf states host important US military bases.
According to the US military, two Iranian missiles fired at Kuwait fell short or broke apart en route, while three missiles launched at Bahrain were intercepted by US and Bahraini air defence forces.
CENTCOM also said US forces had shot down three one-way attack drones launched by Iran towards civilian mariners who were lawfully transiting regional waters.
"Forces remain vigilant and ready to defend against unwarranted Iranian aggression during the ongoing ceasefire," CENTCOM said.
In a later update, CENTCOM said another "wave of Iranian drones" had tried to attack US forces in Kuwait. The drones failed to hit their intended targets and US air defences shot down multiple drones, it said, adding that no US personnel or assets were harmed.
US attack on oil tanker possible trigger
The reason for the latest exchange, despite the ceasefire and ongoing negotiations to end the war, appeared to be a US military operation on Tuesday.
The US military said it had attacked an unladen oil tanker off Kharg island, which is important for Iran's oil exports, after the vessel tried to enter an Iranian port. The ship was disabled with a missile, according to CENTCOM.
An Iranian military spokesman confirmed retaliatory strikes by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite force of the Islamic Republic, on X.
He said Iran had warned that "in case of aggression, the response would be different and more severe, and we acted accordingly," adding that "these responses should have served as a lesson."
Any threat to the security of the Strait of Hormuz would have a severe cost for the US military, the spokesman warned.
