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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed the attacks on Sunday, saying it launched ballistic missiles and drones at the US Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait and the US Fifth Naval Fleet at Port Salman in Bahrain.<\/p>\n list of 3 items<\/span>end of list<\/span><\/section>\n Bahrain condemned the attacks, saying they violated its sovereignty and undermined \u201copportunities for de-escalation and stability in the region\u201d, while Kuwait described the \u201crepeated heinous Iranian aggressions\u201d as a \u201cflagrant violation of its sovereignty\u201d.<\/p>\n The US military hit Iran\u2019s Sirik, Bandar-e Lengeh and Qeshm Island on Saturday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its navy and air force \u201cconducted strikes tonight on 10 Iranian military targets at multiple locations in and near the Strait of Hormuz\u201d, saying the attacks were a response to an Iranian drone attack on the Kiku oil tanker.<\/p>\n It said the Panama-flagged vessel was carrying more than two million barrels of crude oil when it was attacked as it transited near the strait early on Saturday.<\/p>\n Britain\u2019s UKMTO maritime security agency \u2060said the tanker hit on Saturday had sustained damage to its bridge, with all crew reported safe.<\/p>\n Qatar condemned the attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait and stressed the need to \u201cspare the region the consequences of unjustified attacks\u201d.<\/p>\n The United Arab Emirates said the attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain had constituted a \u201cblatant violation\u201d of their sovereignty and were a \u201cthreat to their security and stability.\u201d<\/p>\n Echoing the condemnation, Jordan called the attacks a \u201cdangerous escalation, and a blatant breach of international law and the United Nations Charter.\u201d<\/p>\n Oman\u2019s foreign ministry said that it \u201crenews its rejection of all actions that threaten the security and stability of the region, calling for restraint and prioritising dialogue and diplomacy in a manner that contributes to containing the escalation and enhancing regional security and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n The weekend attacks come after the US struck Iran on Friday following drone attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n The Singapore-registered Ever Lovely container ship was hit by a drone on Thursday. No injuries were reported. The US responded by hitting locations near Sirik, while Iran responded by attacking US military locations in the region.<\/p>\n Iran has said vessels transiting the strait can only use its designated route and warned that ships using any other routes would be violating the ceasefire agreement.<\/p>\n The International Maritime Organization suspended its plan to evacuate ships stranded in the strait on Thursday after the attack on the Ever Lovely.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump said late on Saturday that Tehran had violated the ceasefire agreement, which was signed on June 17.<\/p>\n \u201cThere may come a point when we are no longer able to be reasonable, and will be forced to militarily complete the job that we very successfully started,\u201d he posted on social media. \u201cIf that happens, the Islamic Republic of Iran will no longer exist!\u201d<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the US strikes on its monitoring and surveillance facilities on its southern coast. It said the \u201cbrutal attacks\u201d were in violation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the United Nations charter.<\/p>\n It added that they showed the US \u201cdoes not place the slightest value and credibility on its commitments\u201d and said Iran would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against \u201cUS military aggression\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking in Iraq on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that \u201cthe Strait of Hormuz remains under the total oversight and management of Iran throughout the 30 coming days, and after all obstacles are removed, the total capacity of the waterway will be restored.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAny new developments will result in exacerbating the situation, and also delaying the opening of the strait. It will also raise the levels of escalation,\u201d he added, warning that no other party should interfere. He called for all parties to honour their obligations under the MoU, otherwise it will derailed.\u201d<\/p>\n The MoU signed by the US and Iran extended a ceasefire in their war that began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, giving both sides 60 days to negotiate an end to the fighting.<\/p>\n Access through the Strait of Hormuz is a key element of the MoU. During the war, Iran blocked the waterway through which about 20 percent of the world\u2019s oil passes, triggering a global energy crisis.<\/p>\n Article 5 of the MoU states that Iran will \u201cmake arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels\u201d through the strait during the 60 days. It states that Iran and Oman, along with other Gulf states, will discuss the future administration of the strait.<\/p>\n Wolfgang Pusztai, a defence analyst, told Al Jazeera that while neither the US nor Iran have an interest in a bigger escalation, \u201cthere is a risk that this might happen unintentionally.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf there are some hits in residential areas, if a larger number of civilians are getting killed in the Arab Gulf states, if an American base is hit severely so that the American soldiers are killed, this might easily get out of control,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRecommended Stories <\/h2>\n
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