Gulf nations report attacks hours after Iran-US ceasefire announced

Several Persian Gulf nations reported missile and drone attacks on their territories Wednesday, hours after Iran and the United States announced a two-week ceasefire.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defences "are actively engaging" incoming missiles and drones from Iran. The UAE's Defence Ministry stated that explosions heard across the country were caused by air defence systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. "The air defences are currently dealing with missiles and drones coming from Iran," the ministry said.

In Bahrain, explosions were heard near the capital, Manama, on Wednesday morning, several hours after the U.S. and Iran announced the ceasefire and two-week truce. The Kingdom of Bahrain's Ministry of Interior reported that civil defence teams brought under control a fire that broke out at a facility targeted by the Iranian attack. Two people sustained minor injuries, and a number of houses were damaged in the Sitra area as a result of shrapnel from the interception of an Iranian drone.

Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia also reported attacks, according to officials. The violence came despite both sides claiming victory in the ceasefire agreement.

The ceasefire agreement included provisions for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. However, confusion over the status of the economically vital waterway and disagreements about the framework for talks underscored the fragility of the truce less than a day after it began.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps threatened a military response against "aggressors in the region" if there was not an immediate halt to attacks in Lebanon, where Israel has targeted the Iran-backed Hezbollah armed group. Israel's continued operations in Lebanon threatened to disrupt the truce between Washington and Tehran.

The two-week ceasefire appeared to be largely holding despite the reported attacks and tensions over its terms.