ISTANBUL

Kuwait said its air defense forces were currently responding to missile and drone attacks for the fifth time on Thursday.

"The General Staff of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces confirms that any explosions that may be heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting hostile targets," the Kuwaiti Army said on US social media company X.

The army also called on the people to follow the security and safety instructions issued by officials.

Regional escalation has flared up since Israel and the US launched a joint attack on Iran on Feb. 28 that has so far killed over 1,300 people, including Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and injured over 10,000 others, according to Iranian authorities.

Tehran retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries that are home to US military assets.