The United States has launched airstrikes against military targets inside Iran, sharply escalating tensions between the two countries. Washington accused Tehran of violating the ceasefire agreement.
US Central Command said the strikes hit missile storage sites, drones and radar facilities along Iran's coast. The attacks came after a drone struck a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, halting a planned rescue of sailors trapped in the region.
Iran's government said the ship was using a waterway it was not authorized to use, and that its action was a security measure.
The United States called the attack on the ship a clear violation of the ceasefire, saying Iran's actions threaten freedom of navigation for commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global trade.
Shortly after the US strikes, Iran said it launched attacks on targets linked to US forces, accusing Washington of breaking the interim agreement between the two countries.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said its naval forces struck bases linked to US forces in the region, though no further details on damage were released.
Bahrain's government said several drones attacked parts of its territory, calling it a clear violation of its sovereignty and accusing Iran of fueling regional tensions.
A fuel tanker was also reported hit by an unidentified object while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The ship sustained damage, but all crew members survived and no environmental pollution was reported.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategic waterway through which most oil and gas from the Middle East passes. Any disruption there has a direct impact on global energy markets and trade flows.
The United States and Iran agreed on June 17 to a temporary 14-point ceasefire, which included ensuring the safety of commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. However, the latest events show the agreement faces new challenges, as regional tensions have once again escalated.
