Iran launched a series of missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Kuwait and civilian shipping routes in the Gulf during the early hours of Wednesday, according to US military officials.

The attacks included ballistic missiles aimed at regional neighbours, with one of the targets being the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, Bahrain.

However, the US military said all incoming threats were successfully neutralised before reaching their intended targets.

In a statement issued on Wednesday morning, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Iran launched several ballistic missiles toward neighbouring countries, but none struck their objectives.

“Iran launched several ballistic missiles toward regional neighbours; however, all failed to hit their intended targets,” CENTCOM said.

According to CENTCOM, two missiles fired toward Kuwait City, Kuwait, either fell short or broke apart during flight, while three missiles launched toward Bahrain were intercepted by combined US and Bahraini air defence systems.

Earlier in the night, US forces also shot down three one-way attack drones allegedly launched by Iran toward civilian vessels navigating the Gulf waters.

Military officials said the drones posed a threat to commercial shipping operating legally in the region.

Before the strikes, US forces carried out what CENTCOM described as “self-defence strikes” against an Iranian military ground control station located on Qeshm Island, a strategically important island near Iran’s southern coast and a key hub for the country’s oil industry.

Later, at approximately 5.30am, CENTCOM reported that another wave of Iranian drones targeting US forces stationed in Kuwait failed to reach their intended targets.

The heightened military activity also disrupted regional air traffic.

Flight-tracking data showed commercial aircraft holding over Gulf airspace, while several flights arriving from Kuwait, Bahrain and Amman were cancelled at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international airport.

Most other flight operations continued normally.

The latest escalation adds further pressure to already fragile diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran.

Negotiations between the two countries have been ongoing for weeks amid tensions over regional security and other disputes.

On Tuesday, Iranian officials suggested that the talks had collapsed.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks between Washington and Tehran remained active, indicating diplomatic channels have not yet been closed despite the recent hostilities.