Iran targets US base after new attack near Bandas Abbas

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched an attack targeting a US air base on Thursday, retaliating for US strikes near Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city. The IRGC claimed the attack followed an early morning US operation that destroyed a drone control station in Bandar Abbas, which the US Central Command said was defensive to protect troops from Iranian threats. The latest escalation comes amid a fragile ceasefire in the Strait of Hormuz, where US and Israeli strikes began a three-month war on February 28. The US military had previously conducted self-defense strikes on Iranian missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines in the strait, where commercial shipping remains disrupted. Iran condemned the strikes as a ceasefire violation and vowed retaliation, while Kuwait reported responding to missile and drone attacks without specifying the origin. Oil prices surged over 3% following the escalation, reversing earlier declines, as global energy markets remain volatile due to the conflict. US President Donald Trump dismissed an Iranian state TV report claiming an unofficial draft deal would restore prewar shipping levels within a month, warning Oman against controlling the strait. Trump stated, 'Nobody’s going to control (the strait),' and insisted sanctions on Iran would not ease until demands were met. The Iranian parliament’s national security committee head, Ebrahim Azizi, criticized Trump’s rhetoric, emphasizing Iran’s demands to enrich uranium and maintain authority over the strait. Meanwhile, Israel reported hostile aircraft activity in northern regions, linked to Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon. The exchange highlights deepening tensions despite ongoing negotiations to end the war.