Iran has claimed it targeted a US military base following renewed American strikes on southern Iranian territory, as tensions continue to escalate despite ongoing ceasefire efforts.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched an operation against what it described as a US air base in the region, though it did not specify the exact location. Kuwait, which hosts US military facilities, reported that it had intercepted “hostile missile and drone threats” during the same period.
The US military said Iran fired a ballistic missile towards Kuwait, which was successfully shot down by Kuwaiti air defences. It did not confirm whether the intended target was a US installation.
The latest exchange of attacks follows US strikes on Iranian positions, including drone interceptions over the Strait of Hormuz and a strike on a military site in the port city of Bandar Abbas. Washington said these operations were carried out in self-defence.
US Central Command described Iran’s latest actions as a serious violation of the ceasefire, saying multiple Iranian drones and a missile posed threats in and around the strategic waterway. It added that all incoming threats were intercepted.
The IRGC said its strike was carried out in response to earlier US operations, claiming it targeted the source of those attacks, according to Iranian state media.
Iran’s foreign ministry condemned the US strikes as a breach of the ceasefire and warned that Tehran would take “all necessary measures” to defend its sovereignty.
Kuwait’s foreign ministry also strongly criticised the incident, describing it as “criminal attacks” on its territory.
The confrontation comes amid fragile ceasefire conditions and ongoing negotiations aimed at ending months of conflict that has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushed global energy prices higher.
Earlier this week, the US carried out additional “self-defence” strikes targeting Iranian missile sites and vessels allegedly preparing mines in the strait, where commercial traffic has been heavily affected.
Washington has also imposed new sanctions on an Iranian maritime authority responsible for managing payments for ships passing through the strait, warning that companies engaging with it could face penalties.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global shipping route, with around one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passing through it.
Both Tehran and Washington have continued to accuse each other of escalating tensions, while diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting agreement remain uncertain.
