The US military said Saturday night it intercepted and destroyed two Iranian attack drones that were posing a threat to shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the latest confrontation between the two sides as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.

“Earlier today, US forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” US Central Command says on its X account.

“American forces remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression.”

The announcement followed a statement from CENTCOM late Friday that its forces had downed four Iranian attack drones headed toward the strait and carried out strikes against Iranian coastal surveillance radar installations.

The escalating exchanges, which also included a barrage of Iranian missiles fired Saturday toward US allies Bahrain and Kuwait, took place even as Washington and Tehran have continued weeks of indirect negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.