The United States launched its 11th consecutive night of strikes against Iran on Tuesday, targeting drone storage facilities, aircraft hangars, and military logistics infrastructure, according to CENTCOM. The strikes aim to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM announced on X.
Strait of Hormuz remains open despite tensions
Despite the ongoing attacks, the Strait of Hormuz—a vital waterway bordering Iran and Oman through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil passes—remained fully open for all shipping until the US and Israel attacked Iran unprovoked in February. Iran has historically used the threat of closing the strait as leverage in the conflict.
On Tuesday, two commercial ships attempting to transit the strait without Iranian permission were hit by projectiles allegedly fired by Iran and engulfed in flames, according to reports.
War costs soar to $37.5 billion
War Secretary Peter Hegseth told lawmakers that the war has cost the US approximately $37.5 billion, an increase of nearly $8 billion since the last estimate in May. Hegseth requested an urgent $87 billion from Congress for the Pentagon, with $67 billion destined for operations in the Middle East. The hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday was repeatedly disrupted by anti-war protesters and ended in a shouting match between Hegseth and a senator.
Iran attacks commercial vessels
According to CENTCOM, Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels transiting the international waterway over the past three months. “The unwarranted attacks have endangered hundreds of innocent mariners and undermined freedom of navigation,” CENTCOM said.
Trump threatens nuclear site
President Donald Trump has threatened to attack an Iranian underground nuclear site in the Pickaxe Mountain area, near the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in southern Iran. Tehran responded by threatening to expand the war in the region if the US follows through.
Iran retaliates against US allies
Iran retaliated against CENTCOM's Tuesday night strikes with strikes on US Middle East allies, including Kuwait, Jordan, and Bahrain—neighbouring Gulf states that host US military bases. Iran's latest strikes targeted US facilities at Camp Doha in western Kuwait, hitting “ammunition depots” and “ground forces command logistics equipment,” according to Al Jazeera quoting state media. Kuwait, subjected to daily Iranian strikes, has begun rationing electricity after Tehran struck its power infrastructure.
