ABD Launches Airstrikes Against Iran Following Attacks on Ships in the Strait of Hormuz

The United States military launched a comprehensive military operation against Iran early on Wednesday morning following Iran's attack on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz. This military intervention also took place as part of an American effort that invalidates the Islamic Republic's permission to openly sell its crude oil on world markets. Immediately following the attacks, it was reported that Iran retaliated, targeting Bahrain and Kuwait in this context. The Iranian government warned Washington, officially announcing that it "will take all measures it deems necessary." This escalation significantly increased the risk of the collapse of the temporary agreement reached to stop the fighting in the war.

While Bahrain is positioned as a strategic base hosting the US Navy's 5th Fleet, Kuwait is a critical country where American ground forces troops are stationed. Iran targeting these two countries is a frightening indication of how quickly the scope of the regional conflict can expand. In both Gulf countries, missile alarms sounded on Wednesday morning following the American attack, and civil defense measures were activated. This situation brought concerns that the Middle East has once again found itself on the brink of a broader regional war. Iran directly targeting countries hosting US bases makes the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the crisis increasingly difficult.

The attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the subsequent American military operation occurred in the midst of a prolonged mourning period in Iran. Iran's 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had lost his life in the first moments of the war, and funeral ceremonies held across the country were ending on Thursday. Officials had considered this funeral period as a timeframe of low tension. However, the mourning crowds' constant calls for the assassination of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed how high the anger in the region was.

US Central Command announced that the attacks were carried out to impose a heavy cost in response to the assaults on commercial ships operated by civilian crews navigating in international waters. American forces stated that they successfully struck Iranian air defense systems, radars, and more than 60 small boats used by the Revolutionary Guards. It has long been known that these small boats play a key role in harassment and attack operations against ships in the strait. Additionally, Iranian state television confirmed the sounds of explosions occurring in the Bender Abbas, Keşm, and Sirik regions. The US military added that this military operation has ended, but they are always ready to hold Iran accountable if necessary.

The economic dimension of these developments is just as critical as the military one; as the US also revoked the crude oil sales license given to Iran as part of the temporary agreement. This decision stripped Iran of its first opportunity in years to openly sell its oil on international markets in exchange for dollars. It has long been known that Iran was secretly selling oil to China at very low prices to break the US blockade. In addition, Iran's approach of asserting dominance over the Strait of Hormuz directly threatens global energy supply chains through the critical waterway through which one-fifth of the world's traded oil and natural gas passes during peacetime. The Gulf countries and the United States stated that they are absolutely opposed to Iran's attempt to demand fees from international waters, clearly expressing that they will make no concessions on this issue.