US Strikes Iranian Military Centers as Tehran Retaliates with Drone Attacks in Kuwait and Jordan

The US military carried out its thirteenth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian targets, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory drone attacks across the region as oil prices surged.

Iranian Casualties and Strategic Strikes

Iranian state media reported at least four fatalities in Khuzestan province and two injuries in an attack on a residential district in the port city of Bandar Abbas. Explosions were also heard in strategic locations around the Strait of Hormuz, including Qeshm Island and the city of Jask.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed conducting its thirteenth consecutive night of strikes on Iranian military targets, noting that the operations concluded on Thursday at 9 PM Eastern Time (3 AM on Friday in Poland).

US Military Operations and Objectives

CENTCOM stated that it attacked Iranian military command centers, drone bases, communication networks, coastal surveillance systems, and naval capabilities to further reduce the threat Iran poses to civilian sailors and commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The US command emphasized that the international waterway remains open for transit despite recent attacks by the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with commercial ships continuing to move freely through the strait thanks to US military support.

Tehran’s Retaliation and Regional Impact

In response to US actions, Tehran vowed an increasingly crushing response to every subsequent attack. Overnight, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard used drones to strike the Ali Al-Salem air base and the Abdali civilian border crossing in Kuwait, whose authorities condemned the attacks while rejecting Tehran’s claims of targeting exclusively US facilities.

According to the Iranian IRNA agency, attacks were also carried out on US bases in Jordan, sirens wailed in Amman, and strong explosions were heard near the port of Aqaba. Jordanian fighters attempted to intercept targets in the air, while Iranian missiles reportedly struck the Muwaffak Salti and King Faisal air bases.

US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that damages inflicted by Iran on ships and cargo will be covered from Iranian funds under US control, which are estimated at over 100 billion dollars. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on X that those profiting from such funds should remember that when governments normalize confiscation, no one’s assets will be safe, adding that the resulting chaos will not be pretty or peaceful.

Middle East Conflict Escalation and Market Effects

The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement in June to end the war that began in late February, an element of which includes the release of frozen Iranian funds estimated at over 100 billion dollars. Despite the agreement, US forces have conducted nightly strikes on military facilities in Iran for nearly two weeks, while Tehran responds with regional strikes.

The current escalation is a continuation of the armed conflict that began on February 28 with an attack by Israel and the United States on Iran. The conflict is once again hitting markets, causing crude oil prices to rise sharply as Brent nears 100 dollars following a drastic drop in tanker traffic.

On Thursday, only a single vessel transited the Hormuz strait—the lowest number since May—with the market situation further worsened by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. The United Nations has warned of a deepening humanitarian crisis, appealing to all parties to protect civilians and cease blocking supply chains.