The US has conducted new strikes on Iran, following a drone attack on a Panama-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. US Central Command (Centcom) said it hit multiple targets across Iran in direct response to "continued aggression" against commercial shipping, including military equipment, communication systems, air defense sites and drone storage facilities. Donald Trump said the latest strikes were in response to Iran repeatedly violating the ceasefire deal, suggesting on Truth Social that "there may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable". Iran is yet to comment on the latest strikes.
Centcom said in a statement, "Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit MT Kiku," a Panama-flagged tanker. It added that commercial vessels are continuing to operate in the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after the latest strikes were announced, the US president took to Truth Social, where he said was it was "very possible" that Tehran would "never learn". "There may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started," he wrote on Saturday evening.
The post went on: "If that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!" In the hours following the US strikes, Kuwait and Bahrain both reported that their air defence systems had been activated. "Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks," the Kuwaiti Armed Forces said in a statement shared to X, asking the public to adhere to security instructions. Bahrain's Ministry of Interior has urged citizens to "remain calm and head to the nearest safe place". (Read More)
