US Strikes Iran Again
The US conducted a second straight night of airstrikes on Iranian military sites near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting swift retaliation from Tehran and raising fears of a wider regional war. US Central Command said the latest strikes targeted air defence systems, radar installations, and surveillance facilities in southern Iran, including areas monitoring maritime traffic around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island.
Explosions were reported in those locations as the confrontation entered a dangerous new phase.
Iran responded by firing missiles and drones at US bases across the region and claimed it had closed the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping, warning that any vessels entering the area would be at risk. Washington rejected the assertion, stating that maritime traffic continued normally and denying any damage to its naval assets.
The exchanges have triggered alarm in global energy markets, pushing oil prices higher due to concerns over potential disruptions in the vital shipping lane.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched attacks on US facilities in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Iranian media reported that ballistic missiles struck Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, claiming damage to infrastructure. Neither Jordan nor the US has verified these reports, though both countries activated air defences and intercepted incoming projectiles.
Kuwait briefly halted air traffic after detecting hostile aerial activity, while Bahrain reported interceptions of drones, with debris falling in residential zones and causing minor injuries. The US Embassy in Jordan issued an emergency alert, urging American citizens to seek shelter amid missile and drone threats.
In a related development, local media in Lebanon reported an Israeli strike near Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley, as tensions with Hezbollah persist.
With hundreds of Indian seafarers deployed across the Gulf at any time, New Delhi is pressing for stronger protection for merchant navy personnel while calling for de-escalation to prevent further loss of civilian lives.
