US launches fresh strikes on Iran after tanker attack
The US has conducted new strikes on targets in Iran in response to an Iranian drone attack on a Panama-flagged tanker. Iran's Revolutionary Guard retaliated with missiles and drones against US infrastructure in Kuwait and Bahrain.
US retaliatory strikes
The United States military carried out new airstrikes against Iranian targets on Saturday, following an attack on a Panama-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it hit 10 military sites, including equipment, communication systems, air defense positions, and drone storage facilities. The strikes were described as a direct response to what Centcom called "continued aggression" against commercial shipping.
Iranian retaliation
In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it launched ballistic missiles and drones at eight key pieces of US infrastructure at bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, saying they were destroyed. However, a US official told Reuters that there were no reported US casualties or significant damage to facilities in the Middle East.
Accusations of ceasefire violations
Both sides accused each other of violating a ceasefire agreement that was part of a 14-point memorandum of understanding signed on June 17. Centcom stated that Iran had a chance to honor the ceasefire but chose not to when it launched a drone that struck the tanker MT Kiku. Iran’s foreign ministry blamed the "treaty-breaking US regime" for the escalation.
Regional response
Kuwaiti armed forces reported that their air defense systems were activated to confront hostile missile and drone attacks. Bahrain’s interior ministry urged citizens to remain calm and seek safe shelter. Both countries confirmed activation of air defenses.
Trump's comments
US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that it was "very possible" Tehran would "never learn" and warned that if the US is forced to "militarily complete the job," the Islamic Republic of Iran would "no longer exist."
Context of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway for global oil and gas shipments. It was effectively closed by Iran after US and Israeli attacks in late February, causing a spike in oil prices. Recent negotiations had suggested Iran would not impose tolls on vessels, but Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf stated that the administration of the strait would never return to pre-war conditions.
