Iran strikes back at ships in Hormuz and US bases

US airstrikes have continued for the tenth night in Iran's southern coastal cities and islands. Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reported attacks on two ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, Tehran has claimed retaliatory strikes on US bases in the Middle East.

According to a report by Al Jazeera, explosions have been reported on Qeshm, the largest island near the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions have also been reported in the key port cities of Bandar Abbas and Bandar Lengeh.

Explosions have been reported again in Sirri, which is strategically important and monitors the strait. This continues the series of nighttime strikes on Monday as well.

Furthermore, more explosions have been reported in the cities of Konarak and Chabahar in the southeastern province of Sistan. Explosions have also been reported in Shiraz in the southwest. Reports indicate that air defense systems were activated in Bushehr, which hosts a nuclear power plant.

Early Tuesday morning, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that they had completed another round of strikes in Iran as part of an operation aimed at "degrading" Tehran's "capability" to continue attacking commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, CENTCOM said that in the latest round of strikes, US forces targeted "Iranian military command centers, naval capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems."

CENTCOM also stated that commercial shipping continues to transit the Strait of Hormuz. They said that since the beginning of May, US forces have assisted in the passage of "approximately 900 commercial ships and 450 million barrels of crude oil."

The statement added, "US forces remain prepared and vigilant to hold Iran accountable for its unjustified aggression against civilian mariners who seek to transit the strait freely and openly."

On the other hand, Iran has claimed retaliatory attacks. The IRGC announced that it had attacked two oil tankers attempting to transit through the "unsafe southern route" of the Strait of Hormuz, causing a "terrible fire" on the vessels.
In a statement broadcast on state-run IRIB, the IRGC said rescue teams had evacuated the crews of the two ships.

The IRGC again warned shipping companies to ensure the safety of their sailors, not to believe the "false information" of the US military, and to avoid routes described as dangerous.

The statement further said, "As long as America's misdeeds continue in the region, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed. Not a single drop of oil, gas, or a single packet of chemical fertilizer will be exported from this region."

Iran's army has announced that it carried out strikes targeting the US HIMARS missile system stationed at the Arifjan Camp in Kuwait. Tehran described this as part of an ongoing campaign of attacks on US bases and military assets across the region.

Meanwhile, the IRGC also claimed a separate attack in Kuwait. The force stated that it destroyed an early warning radar, a missile defense radar system, an FPS-117 radar, a Patriot defense system, and an air defense satellite communications system at the US base in Ahmed Al-Jaber.

In the latest retaliatory military operation, the IRGC said it destroyed a US air defense system and radar in the Muharraq area of Bahrain.

The IRGC claimed that a coordinated missile and drone strike destroyed a US Patriot air defense system in Al-Rifa, Bahrain. The attack was carried out with the aim of paving the way for subsequent operations.

Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations sent a letter condemning recent attacks on an under-construction nuclear facility in Iran. In it, he called on the international community to respond to the incident.

Source: Al Jazeera