Kuwait air defenses active as regional escalation continues following US-Iran strikes

Dubai: Kuwait’s military stated on Tuesday that its anti-aircraft systems are actively countering an aerial assault.

Iran has conducted multiple strikes against Kuwait and other Gulf nations allied with the United States in recent days, acting in retaliation for American bombardments. The current cycle of military confrontations was initiated by Iranian attacks on merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Information regarding casualties or structural damage from Tuesday's strike on Kuwait was not immediately available.

"The General Staff of the Kuwait Armed Forces announces that any explosions are the result of the Air Defense systems intercepting hostile attacks," the army said in its statements, without providing further details.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced a policy reversal regarding plans to levy a 20 per cent toll on cargo passing through the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that Middle Eastern nations would instead secure trade and investment agreements with Washington.

“Based on highly productive conversations with Middle East leadership, I have decided to replace the 20% United States Reimbursement Fee with Trade and Investment Deals that the various Gulf States will be making into the United States,” Trump announced on social media.

The US president asserted that the upcoming investments “will be MASSIVE,” though it remains uncertain if these represent new financial pledges beyond the commitments Trump announced following his tour of the Middle East last year.

The development follows American military strikes launched earlier on Tuesday, which prompted Iran to retaliate by targeting Washington's regional partners.

AP/AFP