Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against American military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, according to The Guardian.
The regional attacks also targeted Omani radar systems and a Jordanian air base.
The military escalation followed overnight American strikes against dozens of Iranian assets.
Jordan intercepted four missiles over its territory, while Kuwait engaged hostile aerial targets within its national airspace.
Strait of Hormuz Closure Announced
The conflict intensified after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a Cyprus-registered container ship. Tehran subsequently announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz maritime corridor.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade,” said the US military’s Central Command.
American officials stated that United States forces are actively keeping the maritime passage open by force, noting that commercial shipping traffic has continued transiting the narrow waterway at reduced levels.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards rejected American assertions regarding the waterway, stating that they would not permit unauthorized foreign interference within the strategic shipping lane.
Casualties and Further Strikes
State media reported that the overnight bombardments resulted in casualties in southern Iran.
A telecommunications company employee and an Iranian navy lieutenant were killed, while two other individuals sustained injuries.
United States Central Command forces responded by executing a subsequent round of retaliatory military strikes, targeting at least 140 locations inside Iran.
The operations occurred amid an ongoing 60-day interim agreement period intended to establish permanent peace talks.
International mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, and Egypt are continuing diplomatic efforts to secure a final agreement.
