The United States of America launched large-scale military strikes against Iran overnight, targeting more than 80 sites after Washington blamed Tehran for attacks on three commercial oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it struck over 80 targets, including more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats, missile launch sites and command centres. The operation was intended to impose “heavy costs” on Iran for attacking commercial shipping in one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.
Iranian state media reported explosions on Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas and Sirik, saying that several civilians were injured by shrapnel. While Tehran has not directly claimed responsibility for the tanker attacks, it condemned the US operation as a violation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed last month.
The IRGC later announced retaliatory strikes on what it described as 85 key US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, including a US Navy headquarters and an air base. The extent of damage and casualties was not immediately clear.
In a further escalation, the US Treasury revoked a waiver that had temporarily allowed Iranian oil exports under last month’s US-Iran memorandum, giving companies until July 17 to wind down transactions. Tehran condemned the move as a breach of the agreement and warned it would take all necessary measures to protect its national security.
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian cut short a visit to Iraq following the US strikes and returned to Tehran, while reports indicated the United Arab Emirates assisted in refuelling US aircraft involved in the operation.
