Hormuz tankers on fire, as US, Iran continue attacks: What’s the latest?

What Happened

US Central Command (CENTCOM) struck Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems at 01:00 GMT on Tuesday, marking the tenth consecutive night of US strikes. Explosions were reported by Iranian state media in Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, Shiraz, Bushehr, and Abdanan. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it retaliated by destroying a US Patriot air defence system and radar in Bahrain’s Al‑Riffa and Muharraq area, and also struck the Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, destroying an MQ‑9 drone hangar, a long‑range radar, and communication infrastructure. The IRGC further stated that “massive fires” had broken out on two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz following an explosion, warning shipping companies to avoid the area and threatening to close the strait. The White House told Al Jazeera that US strikes would continue until President Trump decides otherwise, but added that diplomatic talks are ongoing.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The direct military exchange between the US and Iran has escalated into a tenth night, with Iran expanding its retaliatory strikes beyond its borders into Bahrain and Kuwait—both US allies hosting military bases. The IRGC’s claimed attacks on critical infrastructure, coupled with threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, jeopardize global energy flows and raise the spectre of a broader regional war, directly testing US deterrence and diplomatic channels.

Watch For

Monitoring should focus on whether President Trump authorizes further strikes or shifts toward de‑escalation, the status of the damaged tankers and IRGC’s enforcement of the strait, any official response from Bahrain and Kuwait, and the trajectory of the ongoing diplomatic talks referenced by the White House.