Tensions between the United States and the Iranian regime entered a new phase early Wednesday, July 8. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced the launch of a large-scale operation against Iranian regime military targets, stating that the strikes were carried out in response to attacks by the regime’s forces on three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the start of missile and drone attacks against U.S. positions in Bahrain and Kuwait.
In a statement, CENTCOM said U.S. forces had struck more than 80 targets associated with the Iranian regime in southern Iran. According to the statement, the targets included air defense systems, command-and-control centers, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile equipment, and more than 60 IRGC fast attack boats in or around the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. Central Command emphasized that the operation was intended to reduce the regime’s offensive capability to attack commercial shipping and to ensure the security of one of the world’s most important maritime routes. CENTCOM also described the regime’s actions against commercial vessels as unprovoked, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire, warning that if Tehran continues its actions, U.S. forces are prepared to respond further.
The state-run Mehr News Agency reported U.S. strikes on the Sirik area, while state television said multiple explosions had occurred in the vicinity of Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, and villages around the counties of Qeshm and Sirik. Iranian regime officials have not yet released information on the extent of the damage or possible casualties.
Pezeshkian Rushes Back to Tehran
In response, the IRGC announced that in its first retaliation against the U.S. strikes, the IRGC Aerospace Force and Navy jointly targeted “85 key U.S. military facilities” in Bahrain and Kuwait with missiles and drones. The statement also claimed that a U.S. MQ-9 drone had been shot down over southern Iran, a claim that has not been confirmed by U.S. officials.
At the same time, the state-run Fars News Agency claimed that the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain had come under attack and that several explosions had occurred at the base. However, neither the United States nor the Bahraini government has responded to the claim.
In Bahrain, the country’s Ministry of Interior announced that air raid sirens had sounded and urged residents to remain calm and proceed to the nearest safe location. In Kuwait, the country’s military said its air defense systems were intercepting incoming missiles and drones. The Kuwaiti military did not identify the source of the attacks but stressed that the explosions heard were caused by air defense interception operations.
Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Iranian regime’s unified military command, also issued a statement declaring that the U.S. attacks would be met with a “crushing response.” The headquarters claimed that the only safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is the route managed by Iran and warned that it would not allow U.S. interference in the waterway.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian regime’s Majlis (parliament), described the U.S. attacks and the reimposition of oil sanctions on Iran as “a violation of the memorandum of understanding,” but made no reference to the attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Taken together, these developments indicate that the confrontation between Washington and Tehran has entered an unprecedented phase. With both sides carrying out direct attacks, exchanging threats, Gulf states remaining on high alert, and growing concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, the risk of the conflict expanding across the region has increased significantly.
