Written by Layla Hassan
DUBAI — US Central Command said American forces shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones threatening international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the latest in a string of interceptions as the US-Iran conflict enters its 100th day.
CENTCOM said the drones were heading toward commercial vessels in the critical shipping chokepoint. US forces remain ready to “continue defending against Iranian aggression.” The interceptions bring the total number of Iranian drones shot down near Hormuz to six in 48 hours.
Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran on Saturday carrying a letter from Pakistan army chief to Iran supreme leader, as a new mediation effort seeks to break the deadlock over 24 billion dollars in frozen Iranian assets.
The US plans to allow Iranian frozen assets to fund repairs to war damage in Gulf states. Kuwait and Bahrain both intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles overnight. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent team will assess conditions and request damage estimates.
In Lebanon, two Israeli soldiers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon, and several Lebanese army soldiers including a high-ranking officer were killed in an Israeli strike. At least 3,593 people have been killed and 10,990 wounded since March 2, the health ministry said Saturday.
*— Layla Hassan, Media Hook*