Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday claimed it had carried out fresh attacks on US military facilities in Kuwait and Bahrain, while the US military said it had concluded another round of strikes on Iranian targets as part of its campaign to secure commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
The developments came alongside fresh attacks on shipping in the strategic waterway, further raising tensions in the Gulf and fuelling concerns over global energy supplies.
IRGC claims strikes in Kuwait
The IRGC said it targeted and destroyed several US military installations in Kuwait during its latest operation.
According to a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, the strikes hit a long-range radar site, a telecommunications centre, satellite receiving systems and a US missile defence radar. The group also claimed it struck an MQ-9 drone hangar at Ali Al Salem Air Base, destroying or severely damaging several unmanned aircraft. The claims could not be independently verified.
Iran says US air defence systems hit in Bahrain
In a separate statement carried by Iran's state broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC claimed it destroyed a US air defence system and radar in Bahrain's Muharraq area. It also said a US Patriot air defence system in Bahrain's Al-Riffa was destroyed in what it described as a coordinated missile and drone strike. The IRGC said the attacks were intended to pave the way for further military operations.
US says latest strikes on Iran completed
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had completed another wave of strikes against Iran, saying the operation was aimed at reducing Tehran's "ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz".
According to CENTCOM, the strikes targeted Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems.
The command added that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained active, stating that since early May, US forces "have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil".
"American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait," it added.
US issues global security advisory
Amid rising regional tensions, the US State Department issued a worldwide caution for American citizens. It urged Americans, particularly those in the Middle East, to "exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions."
The department also advised Americans outside the region to reconsider travel to or through the Middle East and warned that Iran and groups aligned with Tehran could target US interests, diplomatic facilities or locations associated with Americans overseas.
Iran reports tanker fires in Strait of Hormuz
Separately, the IRGC said two oil tankers caught fire after an explosion while attempting to pass through what it described as the "unsafe southern route" in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement carried by IRIB, the force said rescue teams were evacuating the crews of the vessels. It again warned shipping companies against relying on "false information from the US military" and advised them to avoid routes it described as dangerous.
"It is obvious that as long as America's evils continue in the region, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed and not even a drop of oil, gas, or a package of chemical fertiliser will be exported from the region," the IRGC said.
Fresh attacks on commercial shipping
A tanker also came under attack early Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), marking the latest in a series of incidents targeting commercial shipping.
The British maritime agency said the vessel reported over radio that it had been struck by an unknown projectile.
The latest attack followed two other reported assaults on ships in the strait over the previous 24 hours, with the IRGC claiming responsibility for those operations.
The British military's maritime trade centre also said another vessel was attacked a day earlier near the coast of the United Arab Emirates. A separate ship caught fire after being struck near Oman's coastline, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel, which remained adrift and ablaze.
The incidents unfolded as the US military said it had launched its 10th consecutive night of strikes against Iran. While diplomatic contacts continued, including a visit by Iran's interior minister to Pakistan, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has remained severely disrupted, increasing pressure on global energy markets.
