The United States launched a wave of military strikes across southern Iran early on Wednesday, targeting more than 80 sites after attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, in a dramatic escalation that appears to have shattered last month's ceasefire agreement.
The attacks came hours after three commercial vessels were struck while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Washington blames Iran for the attacks, which Tehran has not officially claimed, prompting the US to launch a "punitive operation" against Iranian military infrastructure. Why did the US launch the strikes? In a statement, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation was intended to impose a "significant cost" on Iran after it attacked civilian vessels in an international waterway.
CENTCOM said it struck more than 80 targets using precision-guided munitions in a new round of offensive strikes. The military said the operation was designed to "degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking international commerce flowing through the international trade corridor".
The US accused Tehran of violating the existing ceasefire and described the attacks on the vessels as "unjustified and dangerous".
According to a US official quoted by CNN , the operation is "punitive" and is not expected to end soon, suggesting further military action could follow. What happened in the Strait of Hormuz? British maritime security agency UKMTO said an "unknown projectile" struck a tanker near the Strait of Hormuz before two more vessels were hit, at least one by a drone.
CENTCOM identified the three vessels as the Marshall Islands-flagged Al Rekayyat, the Saudi Arabia-flagged Wedyan, and the Liberia-flagged Cyprus Prosperity.
The ships were struck close to Oman, where authorities had proposed a temporary shipping corridor hugging the country's coastline, an initiative Iran has opposed as it seeks to impose fees on vessels using the strategic waterway. Which parts of Iran were hit? Iranian state media reported dozens of explosions across southern Iran, particularly in the coastal cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas, as well as on Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province.
State television said US projectiles struck a commercial pier and a fishing pier in Sirik, while also hitting an area containing telecommunications towers in Hormozgan province.
Officials said at least seven explosions were recorded around Sirik port, although no comprehensive assessment of casualties or damage has yet been released. Mehr News Agency reported several explosions in and around the southern port city of Bushehr. The agency, however, denied reports that nearby Kharg Island, Iran's main crude oil export terminal through which around 90% of the country's crude exports pass, had come under attack. What did the US target? According to CENTCOM, US forces struck more than 80 targets, including Iranian air defence systems, coastal radar sites and 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) small boats.
US officials separately told Axios the strikes also targeted coastal surveillance stations, surface-to-air missile batteries, anti-ship cruise missile sites, drone launch facilities and parts of Iran's port infrastructure.
US officials have not released a comprehensive assessment of the damage inflicted. Have there been any reported casualties? Iranian state media reported that several people were injured after projectiles struck the southern port city of Sirik.
Separately, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency said a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy was killed during a confrontation with US drones in the southern port city of Bandar Mahshahr, marking the first reported fatality linked to the latest escalation. How has Iran responded? Iran strongly condemned the strikes, accusing Washington of violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed around three weeks ago to end the recent conflict.
In a statement, Iran's Foreign Ministry said the United States had breached the agreement and vowed to take "all necessary measures" to safeguard Iran's national security and interests.
Tehran also condemned Washington's decision to restore sanctions on Iranian oil exports, arguing that suspending those sanctions formed part of the ceasefire agreement.
Iranian officials further accused the United States of repeatedly violating the memorandum in recent weeks, both directly and through Israeli aggression in Lebanon.
Iran's deputy foreign minister said the attacks breached the first two articles of the agreement and warned that Tehran would respond "decisively".
Iran's top military command also declared that it would not allow any foreign power to interfere in the Strait of Hormuz or the management of the strategic waterway, vowing a "decisive and crushing response" to the US operation.
While Iran has not formally claimed responsibility for the attacks on the three commercial vessels that prompted the US strikes, military commanders said the only safe route for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was the one designated by Iran.
According to the official IRNA news agency, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a retaliatory operation targeting 85 "important US military installations" in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The IRGC said the targets included the US Fifth Fleet headquarters and Port Salman in Bahrain, as well as Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Iran's regular army separately said it had carried out drone attacks on Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.
Air raid sirens sounded repeatedly in Bahrain and Kuwait as the attacks unfolded. Bahrain's Interior Ministry and the Kuwaiti army later confirmed that their air defence systems had been activated, though neither country reported any immediate damage. How have Gulf countries reacted? Kuwait's Foreign Ministry denounced the attacks as a "flagrant violation" of the country's sovereignty. It said it reserved the right to take all necessary measures to protect its security and stability.
Egypt also condemned the reported strikes on Bahrain and Kuwait, describing them as an unacceptable escalation and reaffirming its solidarity with both Gulf states. What has been the impact on oil markets? According to The New York Times , oil prices rose by around six per cent after news of the US strikes emerged, climbing to approximately $76.50 a barrel.
Later on Wednesday, oil prices climbed further after US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran "over", extending gains as investors feared further disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Is the ceasefire now 'over'? The latest exchange of strikes has placed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding under unprecedented strain.
US officials have indicated that the military operation could continue, raising the prospect of a prolonged campaign against Iranian targets.
Meanwhile, Tehran has vowed further retaliation, while attacks on US positions in Bahrain and Kuwait suggest the confrontation is already spreading beyond Iran itself.
Speaking on Wednesday, Trump said that, as far as he was concerned, the ceasefire with Iran was "over", adding that although US negotiators could continue talks if they wished, he saw little value in pursuing them.