The United States has carried out strikes against Iran for a third consecutive night, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks against US allies in the Gulf as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz escalate once again.
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that its latest round of strikes began at 16:45 ET (21:45 BST) on Monday, aiming to halt Iran’s capacity to attack “innocent civilians and commercial shipping” in the Strait of Hormuz.
CENTCOM also announced that the latest round of strikes on Iran lasted for five hours, hitting military targets across the country, including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas.
Explosions were reported across Iran’s southern coast by Iranian state news and television, including the port city of Bandar Abbas, and on Kish and Qeshm islands, as well as the town of Jam in Bushehr province.
As a result, Iran responded with retaliatory strikes against US allies in the Gulf. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) hit several “violating” vessels in the strait and shot down a US drone near Bandar Abbas, according to Iran’s Tasnim news agency.
Strikes on Gulf
Two Emirati oil tankers were hit by Iranian cruise missiles in Omani waters and in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one Indian crew member, with eight others wounded.
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The Iranian army said on Monday that it carried out a drone attack on US military targets in Kuwait, claiming it launched drones at a US Patriot missile system, fuel tanks, a watchtower and an ammunition depot.
Bahrain was also targeted as the IRGC said “several weapons storage depots, a satellite communications centre, and a building housing US forces” were hit, with four air raid sirens being heard on Tuesday so far.
Jordan’s army also shot down four Iranian missiles in its airspace, which the IRGC said it launched at US forces and key facilities at an airbase in Jordan.
However, the IRGC clarified that its attacks on Jordan were not against the people, but rather the US military presence:
“You know that we hold no animosity toward your country. On the contrary, we deeply love you, the noble people. You understand the pain and suffering of the Palestinian people better than any other nation, and you are aware of the crimes of the Zionist regime in the massacre of 70,000 Palestinians, including 20,000 children in Gaza, carried out with the direct involvement of the United States,” it said.
Iran and U.S. statements
U.S. President Donald Trump formally announced on July 7 that fighting with Iran had resumed, directing Congress to keep US forces in combat for another 60 days.
( Celal Güneş – Anadolu Agency )
On Monday, Trump said that the U.S. was dismantling Iran’s offensive capabilities, but added that he still thinks a “deal is possible” despite the return to fighting.
Trump also threatened to “take out” Kuh-e Kolang Gaz La, also known as Pickaxe Mountain, a suspected nuclear site in central Iran.
Meanwhile, the U.S .Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) announced a blockade on Iran beginning at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of Iran’s Parliament’s National Security Committee, said that Iran would remain undeterred in defending its “red lines”.
In a statement on X on Tuesday, Azizi wrote: “Last night, coinciding with the downing of US drones, the ‘Strategic Action for the Security and Sustainable Progress of the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf’ Bill was formally introduced in Iran’s Parliament. We remain steadfast in defending our red lines, particularly regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz.”
