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US launches retaliatory strikes on Iran
The US military conducted overnight airstrikes on Iranian territory, targeting a military control station on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command (Centcom) described the operation as a "self-defence" response to "attempted attacks by Iran across the Middle East."
Iran claims retaliation for US actions
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it had launched missiles and drones at US bases and helicopters in an unnamed "regional country." Tehran framed the attack as retaliation for prior US actions. Centcom confirmed Iran fired ballistic missiles at Kuwait and Bahrain, all of which either disintegrated mid-flight or were intercepted by US and allied air defences.
Kuwait airport hit by Iranian drones
Kuwait's military reported that Iranian drones struck its international airport early Wednesday, causing "significant" structural damage and injuring several individuals. Air traffic was suspended following the attack. Brigadier General Saud Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, a defence ministry spokesperson, condemned the incident as "criminal Iranian aggression." The wounded received immediate medical attention.
Escalation amid stalled ceasefire talks
The latest hostilities occur as negotiations between the US and Iran to end months of conflict remain deadlocked. Talks collapsed over the weekend, with no progress on a proposed ceasefire agreement. US President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that Iran "really wants to make a deal," though US media reported Trump had requested revisions to the terms, including demands related to the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's uranium enrichment program.
Iran's foreign ministry denied such conditions were ever discussed, accusing Washington of "constantly changing its views."
US enforces naval blockade in Strait of Hormuz
Centcom announced it had disabled an unladen oil tanker, the Botswana-flagged M/T Lexie, after its crew ignored repeated warnings while sailing toward Iran. A US aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the vessel's engine room on Tuesday. Footage of the strike was released by Centcom.
Since the blockade began on April 13, US forces have disabled six commercial ships and redirected 122 others. The BBC has sought comment from Botswana's government but has not yet received a response.
US denies offering sanctions relief to Iran
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified before Congress on Wednesday, stating that no sanctions relief had been offered to Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. "Any sanctions relief is condition-based," Rubio said, emphasizing that concessions would only be considered in return for progress on Iran's nuclear program.
During a tense exchange with lawmakers, Rubio declared, "The war is over," though he faced skepticism over the administration's strategy for resolving the conflict.
IRGC warns of consequences for Strait of Hormuz disruption
The IRGC issued a statement warning that "disrupting the security of the Strait of Hormuz will carry a heavy price for the aggressive US military." Centcom confirmed that US forces had intercepted three Iranian attack drones targeting "civilian mariners" in regional waters.
