Iran’s military command declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all commercial traffic and struck two vessels attempting passage late Wednesday, following a new wave of U.S. airstrikes. The military exchange strains a temporary regional ceasefire established in early April.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy stated it hit two oil tankers attempting “illegal passage” through the waterway. U.S. Central Command disputed the closure claim, stating that commercial ships are continuing to transit the strait. The direct fighting resumed Tuesday when a U.S. Army Apache helicopter was downed near the coast of Oman.
U.S. forces launched “additional self-defense strikes” against Iranian ammunition depots, radar systems, and command nodes starting at 5:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday. President Donald Trump told reporters the military would hit Iran “hard” after accusing the government of taking too long to negotiate a permanent peace deal.
Regional neighbors are dealing with the military fallout. Kuwait’s General Army Command confirmed its air defense systems intercepted hostile aerial targets early Wednesday. Bahrain’s interior ministry sounded an air raid siren after the IRGC stated it targeted a U.S. military base in the country.
The Indian Foreign Ministry reported three crew members are missing after the commercial vessel Settebello was attacked off the coast of Oman. Twenty-one crew members were rescued from the ship during an ongoing search operation.