ISLAMABAD: The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes across the Gulf region overnight, marking one of the most serious confrontations between the two sides since a fragile ceasefire was established earlier this year.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces first disabled the Botswana-flagged oil tanker M/T Lexie after it allegedly attempted to reach Iran’s Kharg Island in violation of a US maritime blockade around Iranian ports. CENTCOM said a US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the vessel’s engine room after repeated warnings were ignored.
US officials stated that the tanker was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident and that the operation was conducted in international waters near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM said the action was part of blockade enforcement measures that have been in place since April.
The US military later confirmed carrying out what it described as “self-defense strikes” on military facilities and command infrastructure on Iran’s Qeshm Island, located near the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Officials said the strikes were launched in response to Iranian military activity and attempted attacks against US assets.
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting multiple locations linked to US forces in the Gulf region.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that its forces targeted a commercial vessel identified as Panaya, claiming it was linked to US interests. Iranian media reported that the attack was carried out as retaliation for the strike on the tanker near Iranian waters.
The IRGC also claimed responsibility for attacks against a US air facility in Kuwait and the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. Iranian officials described the operation as an initial response and warned that further action would follow if additional attacks occurred.
In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC said that “the response would be different and harsher” in the event of further escalation and warned regional actors against facilitating attacks on Iranian territory.
CENTCOM, however, disputed Iran’s battlefield claims.
The US military said several ballistic missiles were launched toward Bahrain and Kuwait but asserted that none reached their intended targets. According to CENTCOM, some missiles broke apart during flight while others were intercepted by regional air-defense systems. No US casualties were reported.
Videos circulating on social media from Kuwait appeared to show air-defense activity and interceptor launches during the attacks. Regional authorities have not yet released comprehensive damage assessments.
The latest confrontation comes amid continuing tensions surrounding maritime traffic and security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil trade normally passes.
US officials say that since April, American forces have redirected 122 vessels and disabled six ships attempting to enter Iranian ports under the blockade system established after the broader US-Iran conflict earlier this year.
Energy markets reacted cautiously to the renewed exchange of fire.
International oil prices moved higher following reports of missile launches and military activity near key shipping routes, reflecting concerns about potential disruptions to Gulf energy exports.
Diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the situation also remain under pressure.
Recent negotiations involving sanctions relief, maritime security arrangements, and broader regional issues have made limited progress, while both Washington and Tehran continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire understandings.
Regional governments are closely monitoring developments because several Gulf states host major US military installations and logistics facilities that could become targets if tensions continue to rise.
Security analysts note that while both sides appear determined to avoid a full-scale conflict, the growing pattern of maritime interceptions, missile launches, drone attacks, and retaliatory strikes increases the risk of miscalculation in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
With negotiations stalled and military activity once again expanding across multiple fronts, attention is now focused on whether diplomatic channels can prevent another cycle of escalation or whether further retaliatory actions will follow in the coming days.