Tehran/Washington: Tensions in the Gulf escalated further after the United States announced military action against radar installations in southern Iran, while Iranian forces claimed retaliatory strikes against American military facilities in the region.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American aircraft carried out operations targeting radar positions near Gorouk and Qeshm Island. US officials stated that the action was taken in response to what they described as threats to regional maritime security and following the interception of several Iranian drones.
CENTCOM reported that US forces successfully neutralized four drones allegedly launched by Iran and also intercepted multiple ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles heading toward the Strait of Hormuz and nearby Gulf states. The US military said no American personnel were injured during the incidents.
The command also released video footage that it said showed strikes on Iranian radar facilities. US officials maintained that the operation was intended to address immediate risks to international shipping routes in the area.
Iranian media, however, reported that warning shots had been fired near US naval vessels operating close to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities disputed aspects of the American account and accused Washington of increasing instability in the region.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that it launched retaliatory attacks against US military positions in response to the American strikes. The IRGC also claimed that it confronted several oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without authorization.
Iranian officials warned that continued military action by the United States could lead to a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes. They said responsibility for any such disruption would rest with Washington.
US military officials stated that Iran fired seven missiles during the exchange. According to the US account, six were intercepted while the remaining missile failed to reach its intended target.
In Kuwait, state news agency KUNA reported that the country’s air defense systems were activated to counter incoming missiles and drones. Authorities said defensive measures were taken as a precaution amid heightened regional security concerns.
Separately, the US military announced that it had stopped and inspected a sanctioned, unflagged oil tanker identified as Davina in the Indian Ocean.
In Bahrain, the Ministry of Interior confirmed that warning sirens were sounded and an air alert was issued as regional governments monitored developments closely.
The latest exchange marks another significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising concerns about the security of international shipping lanes and stability across the Gulf region.