International Desk — Regional tensions escalated dramatically as United States forces carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against military targets inside Iran.
In a swift counter-response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched missile attacks on two United Arab Emirates (UAE) supertankers in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the death of an Indian crew member.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the latest operation lasted approximately five hours, concluding at 10:15 PM Eastern Time.
Utilizing precision-guided munitions, American forces successfully targeted key military installations in Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa, and Bandar Abbas.
CENTCOM stated that the preemptive strikes specifically aimed to dismantle Iran’s coastal defense systems, missile and drone launch sites, and maritime capabilities to disrupt Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping.
Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed responsibility for neutralizing what it described as two “rogue supertankers.”
In a statement released via Telegram, the Iranian forces alleged that the vessels had turned off their tracking navigation systems and ignored explicit warnings before attempting to navigate through a “mined passage.”
The IRGC statement did not explicitly name the targeted vessels or provide a specific timeline for the retaliatory strike.
However, the UAE Ministry of Defense soon confirmed the incident, stating that its tankers, Al-Bahia and Mombasa, sustained significant damage from Iranian missiles while navigating within Omani territorial waters.
The ministry further confirmed that an Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa was killed in the attack.
The ongoing exchange of hostilities marks a critical and volatile flashpoint in the vital Strait of Hormuz maritime corridor.
With both Western coalition forces and regional militaries on high alert, the deadly targeting of commercial vessels raises serious international concerns over global energy security and freedom of navigation in the Arabian Gulf.