Iran Hits US Bases in Gulf After New American Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz

The United States carried out a fresh wave of military strikes across southern and western Iran overnight, targeting what it described as key military assets linked to Tehran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The operation marked another sharp escalation in the renewed confrontation between Washington and Tehran, despite an interim agreement that had been intended to ease tensions.

According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the attacks began late Sunday and followed roughly 140 strikes launched the previous night. American forces said they struck dozens of targets, including Iranian air defense systems, coastal radar installations, missile and drone infrastructure, military equipment, and small naval vessels. The operation involved fighter aircraft, naval forces, one-way attack drones, and, for the first time, one-way attack sea drones. CENTCOM said the objective was to "degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking international shipping flowing through the Strait of Hormuz."

The US military also rejected Iranian claims over control of the strategic waterway, stating, "The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it." CENTCOM added that US forces remain "postured and prepared to ensure that freedom of navigation remains available to commercial shipping" despite what it described as Tehran's continued threats and aggressive actions.

Iranian media reported explosions across several areas, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, Farur Island, Bushehr Province, and Khuzestan near the Iraqi border. Iranian state news agency IRNA reported that one telecommunications worker was killed and two others wounded on Farur Island, while another strike on a water pumping station in Mahshahr reportedly left one person dead and four injured. US officials did not immediately comment on those casualty claims.

Tehran responded with a new round of missile and drone attacks against US military interests and allied countries in the Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced strikes on the Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain, home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, as well as the Ali Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts US Air Force personnel. The IRGC also claimed to have targeted Jordan's Prince Hassan Air Base, saying missiles and drones struck fuel storage facilities and ammunition depots as part of what it called the first phase of its retaliation against recent US operations.

The attacks prompted air raid sirens across Bahrain, where authorities urged residents to seek shelter. "The siren has been sounded... citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," Bahrain's Interior Ministry said. Kuwait's armed forces also announced they were intercepting what they described as "hostile aerial targets" over the country's airspace.

Jordan reported intercepting four Iranian missiles that crossed into its airspace during the early morning hours. According to the country's military, the projectiles were destroyed without causing casualties or damage. Iran did not immediately comment on Jordan's claims.

The latest escalation follows an Iranian attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz that forced its crew to abandon ship after it caught fire. Following that incident, the Revolutionary Guards declared that the waterway would remain closed "until further notice and until the end of American interventions in this region." The United States dismissed those assertions, insisting commercial traffic continues to move through the strait and that freedom of navigation remains protected.

Iran's Foreign Ministry sharply criticized the latest US military action, arguing that it had effectively ended diplomatic efforts. In a statement, Tehran said Washington's attacks had "rendered futile" months of negotiations and had brought insecurity back to the Strait of Hormuz while disrupting international trade. Iranian officials also accused the United States of interfering with Iran's management of the waterway.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei also responded to comments by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, rejecting suggestions that both sides shared responsibility for the latest escalation. "It is the continuation of a blatant and unprovoked act of aggression initiated on 28 February by the United States and Israel," Baqaei said, arguing that Iran's attacks on US military bases represented "a legitimate and lawful exercise of its inherent right to self-defense under international law." He also criticized the UN chief for using the term "Gulf" instead of "Persian Gulf," insisting official UN terminology should be followed.