Iran, Gulf hit as Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb close: What’s the latest?

Military operations in the Middle East have intensified as the United States expanded its campaign against Iranian targets across multiple regions. According to US Central Command, strikes conducted early Wednesday targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage facilities, and logistics infrastructure. The stated objective was to reduce Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM claimed that over the preceding three months, Iran had attacked more than 30 commercial vessels in the strait.

Iranian officials confirmed that US forces struck multiple locations across the country. The deputy governor of Khuzestan province reported attacks near Behbahan and Omidiyeh, while military sites near Tabriz in the northwest were also targeted. Additional strikes were reported in Bushehr, Chabahar, Konarak, Hamadan, Ilam, and Kurdistan provinces. Iran's state broadcaster reported that air defenses were activated in Tehran, with explosions heard in several locations.

The escalation extends beyond Iran's borders. Iran's military stated it launched drone attacks against US military facilities at Camp Doha in Kuwait and targeted Jordan's Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Azraq. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps indicated that operations would continue.

Simultaneously, shipping disruptions have widened. Yemen's Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, prompting two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude destined for Asia to reverse course in the Red Sea. Combined with ongoing tensions affecting the Strait of Hormuz, these closures are placing significant pressure on global trade routes and energy markets.