US Strikes Iran After Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz
The United States launched fresh strikes on Iranian targets overnight after Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliatory Iranian missile and drone strikes on Gulf states including Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. These Iran strikes have intensified regional tensions following disputes over passage through the vital waterway. [1] [5]
US Launches Overnight Strikes on Iran
US President Donald Trump stated that the United States would hit Iran hard. [1] He expected the latest military flare-up to end quickly and left the door open to more talks. [1] Trump had earlier said the ceasefire with Iran was over after the latest fighting. [1] At the Nato summit he said “We’re going to hit them hard tonight. They violate the agreement every day.” [1] Later he added that “anything that happens is going to be over very quickly... We’re not looking for long-term”. [1] The US military launched another round of strikes on Iranian targets. [3] These actions followed Iranian attacks on ships that prompted extensive US strikes against Iranian targets overnight. [1]
Iranian Attacks on Ships Trigger Escalation
Iranian attacks on ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz sparked the fighting. [1] Iran’s military has struck at least three ships in recent days. [1] Washington wants free passage for ships through the strait while Iran is insisting on fees and has refused to allow vessels to pass through Omani waters. [1] All three vessels recently struck were sailing close to Oman which had proposed a temporary transit corridor hugging its coastline. [1] The escalation led to fresh military strikes that further unraveled a fragile ceasefire. [5] Iran warned that it will close the Strait of Hormuz and fight to maintain control of the strategic waterway if the United States launches additional attacks. [5]
Explosions Reported Across Iranian Sites
Iranian state media reported a wave of explosions around the strait including six on the island of Qeshm seven in the city of Sirik and more in the major port city of Bandar Abbas. [1] Iran’s official IRNA news agency said a member of the military’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) had been killed. [1] The foreign ministry said monitoring and observation sites had been hit on the southern coast. [1] These reports followed the US strikes on Iranian targets. [1]
Gulf States Face Iranian Retaliation
Sirens sounded in Bahrain for the second time on Thursday morning. [2] Bahrain’s interior ministry reported the sirens. [2] The Bahrain News Agency attributed the sirens to Iranian missiles. [2] An elevated security warning was sent to mobile phones in Qatar. [2] An all clear was sent out within 10 minutes noting that a threat had been eliminated. [2] Moments later sirens sounded in Kuwait where the defense ministry reported that the country’s air defenses are confronting rocket and drone attacks. [2] Iran’s speaker of parliament Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf said “America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free. Let me put it plainly: if you strike you’ll get hit.” [2] He added “Don’t flail around pointlessly or you’ll sink even deeper: the Strait of Hormuz will only open with Iranian arrangements not American threats.” [2] Gulf states stepped up security measures after the new US strikes on Iran. [3]
Ceasefire Unravels and Leadership Rifts Grow
Divisions among Iran’s leaders intensified after the United States launched new strikes on Iranian targets. [4] President Donald Trump publicly questioned the durability of a ceasefire. [4] The fighting sparked by Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz took a hit on efforts to end the Middle East war. [1] Fresh military strikes further unraveled a fragile ceasefire. [5] Iran vowed Hormuz closure and more attacks after the US strikes. [5]
Calls for De-escalation
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar and the United Nations called for de-escalation. [1] The US leader had earlier said the ceasefire with Iran was over after the latest fighting which led to these appeals. [1]
What to watch next: Further US military actions on Iranian targets remain possible while Iran has signaled it will respond to any additional strikes with closure of the Strait of Hormuz under its own arrangements.
