The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes for a second consecutive day on Thursday, escalating tensions over control of the vital Strait of Hormuz. Following a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the waterway, US forces launched offensive operations against approximately 90 Iranian military targets. These strikes, aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to interfere with maritime navigation, impacted missile storage, drone facilities, and logistics centers along the Iranian coast, including sites in Bushehr and the country’s northeast.
Iranian state media reported that the American operations resulted in three deaths near Ahvaz, while explosions were noted in major port cities including Bandar Abbas and Konarak. In retaliation, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards launched drones against US military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar. Authorities in Bahrain and Kuwait confirmed the interception of incoming hostile projectiles.
President Donald Trump declared the existing ceasefire effectively over, though he noted potential for future negotiations. Conversely, Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf asserted that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian jurisdiction and warned that further US aggression would face consequences. As regional leaders like Antonio Guterres urge restraint, the conflict continues to threaten international shipping, leaving thousands of seafarers stranded near the Omani coastline. These military actions occur during a period of mourning for Iran’s late supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.
