U.S. Central Command Commander Brad Cooper [Photo courtesy of AFP=Yonhap News]

With peace talks with Iran stalled, the United States has once again launched airstrikes targeting Iranian military facilities.

The U.S. military emphasized that these were preemptive measures taken during a period of ceasefire, while Iran announced it had retaliated by attacking U.S. military facilities in the Middle East, the origin point of the airstrikes.

U.S. Central Command stated on X (formerly Twitter) on the 1st (local time), "We conducted preemptive airstrikes on Iranian radar and drone control facilities in Ghourouk and Qeshm Island this weekend."

Central Command added, "These airstrikes were deliberate and measured attacks in response to Iran's aggressive actions, including the downing of a U.S. MQ-1 drone operating over international waters. The attacks were conducted on March 30-31."

The explanation followed that two Iranian suicide drones that posed a clear threat to vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the air defense system and ground control stations, were rapidly eliminated.

U.S. Central Command confirmed its intention to not violate the ceasefire, stating, "We will continue to protect U.S. assets and interests in response to unjustified Iranian attacks during the ceasefire."

Earlier, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported on March 29 that the Iranian military had shot down a U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) in the southern Bushehr Province.

Iranian media reported that the Iranian military fired a surface-to-air missile in southern Iran, where the Strait of Hormuz is located, to down the drone.

At the time, Central Command announced on X, "No U.S. aircraft were downed, and all U.S. aerial assets have been accounted for."

In response to the U.S. airstrikes, Iran immediately declared retaliation.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran announced on Iranian state television today, "In response to the recent U.S. military attack on a communication tower on Sirik Island in Hormozgan Province, the IRGC Air Force struck the air base that was the origin of the attack."

The target of the retaliation was believed to be a U.S. Air Force base in Kuwait.

According to the Associated Press, Kuwaiti authorities announced on the same day that they were intercepting drones and missiles with their air defense system.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack on Kuwait.

The Associated Press analyzed that it was highly likely to be an attack by the Iranian military or Shia militias supported by Iran operating in Iraq.

U.S. military conducting a maritime blockade operation against Iran [Photo courtesy of AFP=Yonhap News]