US launches fresh strikes on Iran after tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz 

The United States has launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran, targeting more than 80 military sites after three commercial oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, dramatically escalating tensions in the Gulf and raising fresh concerns over global energy supplies.

The strikes, announced by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Tuesday, targeted over 80 Iranian military assets, including missile launch sites, command-and-control centres, radar installations, air defence systems, drone launch facilities and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast attack boats operating in the strategic waterway.

According to CENTCOM, the operation was designed to “impose heavy costs” on Iran for what Washington described as attacks on commercial vessels crewed by innocent civilians in international waters.

The military action followed separate attacks on three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that one tanker caught fire after an unidentified projectile struck its engine room, while two other vessels sustained damage in separate incidents but were able to continue their voyages.

Although Iran has not officially admitted responsibility for the attacks, the United States, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia have accused Tehran of orchestrating the assaults.

Qatar said one of its vessels, Al-Rekayyat, was deliberately targeted while sailing near the Strait of Hormuz, while Saudi Arabia said its crude oil tanker, Wadyan, was also struck during transit.

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Iran rejected the allegations, insisting that commercial vessels failing to coordinate with Iranian maritime authorities or tampering with navigation systems risked accidents and collisions.

Hours after the US operation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced retaliatory missile and drone strikes on what it described as 85 US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait.

The IRGC claimed the attacks targeted the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Independent verification of the extent of the reported attacks had not been immediately available.

Iranian state media also reported explosions in Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, Sirik, and other southern locations, saying several civilians were injured by flying debris following the US bombardment.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister described the US military action as a clear violation of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding signed last month, warning that Tehran would take “decisive measures” to defend its sovereignty.

The country’s Foreign Ministry also condemned Washington’s decision to revoke a temporary waiver that had allowed limited Iranian oil exports under the agreement.

According to Iranian officials, the move demonstrates the “bad faith, inconsistency and unreliability” of the US government and effectively undermines diplomatic efforts.

Before launching the strikes, the US Treasury revoked the waiver that had temporarily eased oil sanctions on Iran.

The decision restores restrictions on Iranian crude exports and significantly increases economic pressure on Tehran.

US President Donald Trump warned that Washington was prepared to carry out further military operations if Iran continued attacking commercial shipping or violated the ceasefire framework reached last month.

Despite the latest escalation, US officials said diplomatic negotiations remain open and that Washington continues to pursue a long-term agreement with Tehran.

The renewed confrontation has heightened fears of prolonged instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime corridor linking the Persian Gulf with global markets.

Any sustained disruption to shipping through the waterway could significantly affect global energy supplies and drive up international oil prices.

Oil markets reacted immediately to the latest developments, with crude prices climbing as investors weighed the risk of further attacks and possible disruptions to one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

The latest exchange of military action represents one of the most serious confrontations between the United States and Iran since the two countries signed a 14-point memorandum aimed at extending a ceasefire and reducing hostilities across the region.

While both sides continue to insist that diplomatic channels remain open, the latest escalation has cast fresh doubt over the future of the agreement and renewed fears of a wider regional conflict.

US launches fresh strikes on Iran after tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Drone attack hits tanker in Strait of Hormuz

A commercial tanker was reportedly hit in a drone attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, sparking fresh concerns over security in one of the world’s most strategic shipping lanes.

According to initial reports, the vessel allegedly came under attack after passing through the waterway without obtaining the required permission from Iranian authorities. However, the claim has not been independently verified.

Details of the incident, including the identity of the tanker, the extent of the damage and whether there were casualties among the crew, were not immediately available as of the time of filing this report.

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No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, while authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and Oman, is a critical global maritime corridor through which a substantial share of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas exports is transported.

The latest incident is expected to heighten concerns among global shipping operators and energy markets, with analysts warning that any disruption along the route could have significant implications for international trade and oil prices.

Authorities are expected to launch an investigation as more information emerges.

Drone attack hits tanker in Strait of Hormuz

18 Wounded in Twin Damascus Blasts During Macron’s Historic Syria Visit

DAMASCUS — At least 18 people, including four police officers, were injured on Tuesday when twin explosions rocked central Damascus during French President Emmanuel Macron‘s landmark visit to Syria — the first by a European Union leader since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, marking a significant moment in the country’s fragile transition. The blasts occurred near the Four Seasons Hotel in the heart of the capital, where the French leader had been staying, and the Ministry of Tourism building, close to Victoria Bridge and Umayyad Square, a bustling area that is home to government buildings and commercial establishments, making it a high-profile target for any group seeking to disrupt the visit. A security source confirmed to AFP that one device was planted in a dumpster and another in a vehicle near the hotel, and Syrian state television reported that security forces detected the devices during field operations, but they exploded while specialised units were preparing to defuse them, suggesting that the attackers may have been monitoring the security response or that the devices were booby-trapped to detonate upon tampering.

Social media footage showed a vehicle engulfed in flames, plumes of smoke rising from the scene, and blood stains on the street near the hotel, with panicked civilians running for cover and emergency responders rushing to the scene to assist the wounded. Roads around the site were immediately sealed off, and security forces established a cordon to protect civilians and secure the area, while ambulances transported the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and Syrian authorities have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances and identify those responsible, with security sources indicating that they are examining surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses to piece together the events leading up to the explosions.

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The explosions occurred after Macron had entered the Presidential Palace to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa for talks on bilateral relations, reconstruction, and Syria’s political transition, and at no point was the French president in danger, as the blast site was outside the secure perimeter designated for his movement and accommodation. The Elysee Palace confirmed that Macron did not hear the explosions while travelling to the meeting, and a Reuters journalist with the press group accompanying Macron did not hear the blast or see any commotion during the president’s morning events, underscoring the distance between the explosion site and the location of the French leader’s engagements. French presidency sources stated: “The programme continues,” adding that the explosion site was outside the security perimeter designated for the president’s accommodation, and that Macron’s schedule remained unchanged, with the visit proceeding as planned to demonstrate France’s commitment to engaging with Syria’s new leadership.

Macron arrived in Damascus on Monday evening, becoming the first European Union leader to visit Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s 24-year rule in December 2024, a historic moment that signals a significant shift in international engagement with the country. He was accompanied by a business delegation including the chief executives of TotalEnergies and French container shipping group CMA CGM, with Syria’s reconstruction among the key themes of the visit, reflecting France’s interest in securing economic opportunities in the war-torn nation. In a post on social media, Macron declared: “I have come to express France’s commitment to the Syrian people. For a sovereign Syria, united in its diversity and at peace with its neighbours. Together, let us open a new chapter of stability and peace,” emphasizing France’s support for Syria’s territorial integrity and its vision for a peaceful future. The visit highlights Syria’s geopolitical transformation under al-Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander who has established close ties with Western and Middle Eastern powers that shunned Assad, as he seeks to rebuild a country shattered by 13 years of war and re-establish its place in the international community.

France has signalled support for those who can “contribute to build a new Syria” in line with the aspirations expressed since the 2011 Arab Spring, a reference to the pro-democracy protests that sparked the brutal conflict and eventually led to Assad’s downfall. The incident comes just days after a bomb blast at a crowded cafe near the Palace of Justice in central Damascus killed at least ten people and injured 21 others, and earlier this week, Syrian authorities also foiled an attempt to bomb a passenger bus in a Damascus suburb, indicating that security threats remain a persistent challenge. It underscores the fragile security situation in Syria even as the country’s new leadership seeks to rebuild ties with Western powers and attract investment for reconstruction, as remnants of the previous regime, extremist groups, or other actors may seek to destabilise the transition through acts of violence.

The visit is scheduled to continue as planned, with Macron set to travel next to Ankara, Turkey, for the NATO summit, where al-Sharaa is also expected to attend, providing an opportunity for further high-level discussions on regional security and Syria’s future. The French presidency has emphasised that the visit demonstrates France’s determination to engage with the new Syrian authorities and support the country’s transition, despite the security risks that such engagement entails. As the investigation into Tuesday’s explosions continues, Syrian authorities have vowed to bring those responsible to justice and to maintain security in the capital, while the international community watches closely to see whether the country can navigate its transition without descending into further violence.

18 Wounded in Twin Damascus Blasts During Macron’s Historic Syria Visit