Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says it has carried out strikes on US military sites in Kuwait, warning that any country hosting American forces risks retaliation if those bases are used against Iran. The claim comes alongside a separate IRGC statement that two oil tankers exploded while trying to transit a “dangerous” route near the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran says it used missiles and drones against what it calls “important” US facilities in Kuwait, portraying the attacks as a response to recent American strikes on Iranian infrastructure and as a warning to Gulf states aligned with Washington. Kuwait has reported intercepting incoming projectiles with air‑defence systems, and early US indications point to no confirmed serious damage, though full assessments are still emerging.

At the same time, the IRGC has claimed that two tankers were immobilised after explosions south of the Strait of Hormuz, alleging they were guided into a minefield by deceptive US intelligence. American officials deny that tankers have struck mines or that the strait is closed, insisting commercial shipping is still moving through the area. The duelling narratives underline how the conflict is now entangling host‑country security and vital maritime routes, with any verified attack on bases or tankers likely to jolt regional stability and global energy markets.

Iran’s reported strikes on US‑linked targets in Kuwait and its dramatic claims about tanker explosions near Hormuz highlight how the war is widening beyond direct US‑Iran exchanges. As both sides use military action and messaging around key sea lanes, the risk of escalation and miscalculation remains high, particularly for Gulf states and international shipping caught in the middle.