US forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones targeting the Strait of Hormuz on June 5, marking a significant escalation in what has become the defining geopolitical crisis of 2026. US Central Command confirmed the intercepts, citing an imminent threat to maritime traffic in one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints.
The drone launches weren’t the only provocation. Iran also fired seven ballistic missiles toward Kuwait and Bahrain on the same day, with six of those successfully intercepted by regional defense systems. In response, the US conducted follow-up strikes on Iranian coastal radar installations and drone-related sites, framing the action as self-defense.
