US Military Conducts Five-Hour Strikes Across Iran Amid Gulf Tensions

The United States Central Command launched a series of military strikes across Iran lasting approximately five hours overnight between Monday and Tuesday. This marked the third consecutive night of US attacks targeting Iranian military sites amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf. According to an official US military statement, the strikes hit multiple locations including Bushehr, Chah Bahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas, aiming to degrade Iran's capability to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The US forces employed precision munitions against Iranian coastal defense systems, missile sites, drones, and naval assets. More than 50,000 US service members are currently deployed throughout the Middle East, with the military emphasizing readiness and lethal capability.

The strikes followed President Donald Trump's announcement of a planned "powerful" response against Iran. During the night, alarms sounded in Bahrain, where officials reported intercepting hostile aerial targets launched from Iran. The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed that an Indian civilian was killed in an Iranian cruise missile attack on two tankers in the southern Strait of Hormuz, within Omani territorial waters.

In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed to have disabled two tankers, accusing them of ignoring warnings and navigating through mined waters. The IRGC warned that cooperating with the "aggressive enemy" would only delay the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and trigger a global energy crisis.

These developments come amid a full US naval blockade of Iran through the Strait of Hormuz, effective since 23:00 Israel time on Monday. The US-led Maritime Information Center clarified that the blockade applies to all vessel traffic regardless of flag. Recent days have seen sharp escalations, including IRGC fire on ships in the strait, explosions in Bandar Abbas, and drone interceptions. President Trump officially notified Congress of renewed hostilities, stressing that US ground forces are not involved and that the strikes are limited, measured, and designed to minimize civilian harm.