Regional tensions remain high as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, claimed responsibility for new attacks targeting U.S. military installations in the Gulf, while maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continued to decline amid the ongoing conflict.
According to Iranian state media, the IRGC launched a combined missile and drone attack early Thursday against Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, claiming it targeted U.S. personnel gathered at the installation as well as the base’s early-warning radar systems. The claims have not been independently verified, and U.S. officials had not immediately confirmed the reported attack.
Iranian military officials also warned that the conflict could expand if U.S. military operations continue. A spokesperson said Tehran would respond to further American strikes by targeting additional U.S. military infrastructure across the region, while emphasizing that Iran’s dispute is with the United States and not neighboring Islamic nations.
Iranian officials also reaffirmed that they would not tolerate what they described as foreign interference in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the strategic waterway a national security red line.
Elsewhere in the region, Bahrain and Jordan activated air raid sirens overnight as regional defenses responded to reported missile threats. Jordanian media reported that several incoming missiles were intercepted, while Iranian state media claimed attacks were also carried out against U.S. military communications systems and fuel storage facilities at Jordan’s Azraq Air Base. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.
The latest exchange comes as commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to slow despite the United States lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Shipping data indicated that vessel traffic through the narrow waterway declined significantly compared with previous days as security concerns continued to affect maritime operations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy corridors, handling a substantial share of global oil and natural gas exports. Continued military activity around the waterway has raised concerns over international shipping, global energy markets, and regional stability.
As both Washington and Tehran continue exchanging military actions and warnings, international observers are urging restraint to prevent the conflict from expanding further across the Middle East.
Swati Montel, Reporting for SNEWS TV.
