US, Iran trade new round of strikes

TEHRAN -- Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that it struck and destroyed 18 US "important targets" in response to fresh US attacks on Iran.

The IRGC launched a drone attack on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"In this wave of military drone attacks, the communications antennas and radar installations of the Fifth Fleet's Patriot system were targeted," the report said.

Bahrain and Kuwait said their air defense forces intercepted missiles and drones. Kuwait announced a temporary closure of its airspace after Iranian attacks as a precautionary measure.

In an X post, Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority also announced the diversion of flights to alternative airports.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command said it had completed additional strikes against multiple Iranian targets and that the strikes were in response to Iran's "unwarranted and continued aggression."

Separately, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern city of Sirik and in Abik in Qazvin province in the west, alongside reports of drone activity in other areas.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said Washington had been engaged in direct communications with Iranian officials. Tehran denied the claim.