US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it has completed another round of strikes against Iran as Middle East tensions continue to escalate amid efforts being by mediators to tackle the situation.
“US forces struck Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial vessels flowing through the Strait of Hormuz,” read official statement.
It said Commercial vessel transits through the vital international maritime corridor continue. Since early May, CENTCOM forces have helped facilitate the transit of approximately 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil.
American forces remain postured and prepared to hold Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression toward civilian mariners seeking to freely and openly transit the strait.
On the other hand, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran has claimed attacks on US military installations in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the American strikes.
The IRGC said it targeted the U.S. radar and air defense system in Muharraq, Bahrain. In addition, it claimed to have targeted the U.S. Patriot air defense system deployed in Riffa, Bahrain, with missiles and drones.
In a statement issued by the IRGC, it said that U.S. radar, communication systems, and satellite installations in Kuwait were targeted with missiles and drones.
The IRGC claimed it targeted the MQ-9 drone hangar at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. It also claimed to have targeted U.S. military installations at Ahmad Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait.
In addition, the IRGC said that two oil tankers caught fire after explosions when they attempted to pass through the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz.
Yemen’s Houthis declared naval blockade against Saudi Arabia amid sharp escalation in regional tensions, threatening maritime security in Red Sea.
The group’s military spokesperson declared a “maritime embargo” on Kingdom, saying the measure would take effect immediately under an “eye for an eye” policy. The Houthis argued that the blockade is retaliation for what they describe as Saudi Arabia’s nearly 12-year siege on Yemen through restrictions on its ports, airports, and borders, accusing Riyadh of exploiting the country’s resources while maintaining a comprehensive land, sea, and air blockade.
The announcement comes just days after Houthis launched ballistic missiles and drones at Saudi targets, claiming the attacks were in response to an alleged Saudi strike on Sanaa International Airport. Those strikes shattered nearly four years of relative calm and marked the first publicly claimed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia since an informal truce took hold in March 2022.
Meanwhile, reports said intermediaries working between Washington and Tehran have proposed a 10-day ceasefire aimed at easing tensions between the two adversaries and creating an opportunity for diplomatic talks to resume.
During the conflict, Qatar and Pakistan have emerged as key mediators, taking a leading role in efforts to de-escalate the situation and facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
