Two oil tankers struck sea mines in the southern Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, and Iranian news agency ISNA said one of them, carrying more than two million barrels of crude, sank.
Iranian state broadcaster IRIB reported that five tankers hit mines in the strait over a 48-hour period. Two were located in the south and three in the centre and east.
The Revolutionary Guards said that the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Vessels failed to follow rules imposed by Tehran in the waterway.
Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations said it was aware of an Indian shipping authority report regarding an attack on an eastbound energy tanker heading toward Hormuz. All crew members were reported safe. The extent of the damage was unknown.
An explosion was triggered on Friday when a liquefied petroleum gas carrier hit a mine while attempting a passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The Revolutionary Guard confirmed this. Central Command reported last month that it directed American military operations throughout the area and exported 1.5 billion barrels of oil from Gulf nations via Hormuz—a vital energy transit corridor—starting in the summer.
The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28. Gulf countries bore the brunt of Tehran’s wrath in the ongoing conflict. Tehran curtailed maritime traffic through Hormuz and targeted key infrastructure across U.S.-partnered nations, including airports, seaports, energy hubs, prominent landmarks, and American military installations.
The Revolutionary Guards launched six drones at a U.S. radar system at the al-Riffa air base in Bahrain. State media reports said the action was carried out in retaliation for a U.S. strike on a telecommunications tower in Sirik, southern Iran, the previous week.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its Aerospace Force targeted and destroyed a U.S. early-warning radar installation in Bahrain. Iranian state broadcaster carried a statement. The Guards said: “A few hours ago, IRGC Aerospace Force fighters targeted and destroyed the US aggressors’ early-warning radar on the island of Bahrain in response to the enemy’s air aggression against a telecommunications tower in Sirik.”
The statement added: “This is a serious warning to the aggressor enemy to stop its aerial provocations and oil smuggling in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Officials in Manama and Washington did not immediately verify whether any strike had occurred in Bahrain. Their regional facilities and military hardware faced constant attacks during earlier stages of the conflict.
The U.S. military said Friday it intercepted two Iranian attack drones headed toward Bahrain. It denied Iran’s claim that it had struck a U.S. radar system in the kingdom. CENTCOM said that there were no injuries or damage.
“Bahrain says Iranian drones targeted its territory early Saturday,” according to reporting highlighted by Middle East Monitor. Officials in Manama said that air defenses intercepted the incoming drones. The Bahraini Foreign Ministry condemned the attack involving a number of Iranian drones.
CENTCOM denied the Iranian claim of an attack on a US radar in Bahrain and said two drones were shot down.
Earlier coverage: Iran Claims It Targeted a US Military Radar in Bahrain
