US and Iran swap strikes as ceasefire hangs by a thread

Iran's top military command has said the Strait of Hormuz is now completely closed after the latest round of US strikes.

Any ship seeking to traverse the economically important passage will be attacked, Iran said. 

Iranian media reported that two "violating ships" trying to go through the Strait of Hormuz had been hit after the Iran military announcement. 

The US rejected the claim and said: "Commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight."

When the US and Israel started their offensive against Iran in late February, Iran largely brought shipping through the waterway, a vital transport route for oil, gas and fertilizer, to a standstill through threats and attacks on vessels.

Although Tehran insisted the waterway had not been closed to traffic, shipping companies had to coordinate with Iranian authorities and use a corridor near Iran's coastline. Iran also imposed high transit fees.

The US military has been guiding some ships surreptitiously through the strait, officials have said, but the volume of shipping getting through is far below the pre-war level of some 3,000 vessels per month.

On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump claimed on social media he had authorized such a "secret mission" since last month to allow more than 100 million barrels of oil to reach the open market through the strait.

That claim could not be immediately verified independently, and the figure given by Trump roughly equals just five days of oil shipments through the waterway before the war began.

Kuwait has reopened its airspace to commercial traffic after Iranian attacks prompted a temporary closure, the Gulf country's civil aviation body said.

"Air traffic in Kuwaiti airspace has returned to normal," the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement.

During the closure, flights were diverted to alternative airports.

The US carried out strikes on Iran overnight to Thursday after President Donald Trump said the Islamic Republic would have to "pay the price" for stalled peace negotiations.

Iran has responded with attacks on regional neighbors.

Here is a rundown of recent events:

• US CENTCOM said it hit new targets in Iran overnight to Thursday in response to Tehran's "continued aggression.
• Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain in response
• Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace due to fresh Iranian attacks
• The US Embassy in Jordan issued a "shelter in place" warning amid reports of missiles in Jordanian airspace
• UN chief Antonio Guterres has called for deescalation as the US and Iran continue to carry out attacks.

 

The US Embassy in Jordan said in a statement on its website that "reports indicate missiles, drones, or rockets are in Jordanian airspace. Seek overhead cover and shelter in place immediately. Remain indoors and pay attention to local announcements and alerts."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said it targeted key military facilities at Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan with 12 ballistic missiles.

Al-Azraq base hosts US forces and aircraft. 

Kuwait​​​​​​​ has temporarily closed its airspace due to Iranian attacks. 

Flights have been diverted. 

Earlier, the Kuwait military said its air defense systems were engaging hostile aerial targets. Iran had said it is targeting US military facilities in Kuwait.    

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior again said sirens are sounding the Gulf Arab country. 

"Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place," the ministry repeated. 

Kuwait also said its air defense systems are responding to fresh attacks. 

Iran had earlier said it is targeting US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait.    

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it attacked US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to the latest round of US strikes on Iranian territory. 

"During two waves of operations, eighteen important targets belonging to the US Army," (were hit) at the Ali Al Salem and Ahmed Al Jaber air bases in Kuwait, the IRGC said.   

The Iranian military also said it attacked the "Sheikh Isa Air Base" in Bahrain. 

It's unclear what damage has been done in the latest Iranian attacks.  

The US military said its latest round of "self-defense" strikes on Iran have been "completed." 

"CENTCOM forces launches strikes on Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran. US Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to US forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters," the military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X. 

"The strikes are in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression," the statement added. "US forces remain vigilant, lethal, and ready."  

You join our coverage on the current Middle East conflict as renewed attacks by the US and Iran seem to threaten a return to all-out war after a slight respite afforded by an April 8 ceasefire.

The flare-up in hostilities has dampened hopes that the war, triggered by US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February, will end anytime soon.

Several of Iran's regional neighbors hosting US bases have also been targeted as Tehran responds to the latest wave of US strikes.

Meanwhile, the Iran and the US both gave conflicting claims on the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran claiming the vital global transport route for oil and gas is closed, while the US military said commercial traffic is transiting the strait. 

We invite you to read here to stay abreast of the latest developments in a conflict that has repercussions for the entire world.