Iran launches large-scale missile and drone attacks on enemy bases

Iran's armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have launched a large-scale missile and drone operation. According to Iranian state media, the Iranian military and the IRGC have started a large-scale missile and drone operation. The media described the operation as an action to target "enemy bases" across the region, and reported that petrol tanks and ammunition depots caught fire at Prince Hassan Air Base in Jordan.

The IRGC said the attack on the base in Jordan was the first stage of an operation in response to US attacks on Iranian coastal bases. The IRGC warned that the retaliatory operation is still ongoing and claimed to have targeted Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain. The statement said the attack targeted helicopter maintenance facilities, a hangar with a P-8 plane, and a US drone command and control center at the base.

Iranian state media reported that the IRGC also targeted two air bases in Kuwait. These claims come amid a series of retaliatory attacks between Iran and the US across the region. The statement said the operation was carried out against targets identified after monitoring "enemy movements" over the past 48 hours.

The IRGC said in a separate statement that the purpose of its naval operation in the Strait of Hormuz was to target two ships that had turned off their tracking systems, violated maritime rules, and posed a threat to maritime security. This statement came shortly after Iran warned that any location used for attacks on Iran on Monday would be considered a "legitimate target" for retaliatory action.

Iran's Foreign Ministry warned neighboring countries not to allow their territory or facilities to be used for attacks on Iran by the US or any other party. The ministry said it was the responsibility of neighboring countries under international law to prevent their territory from being used for military action against Iran and warned that the "source and launch site" of any attack would be targeted by Iranian armed forces.

This development came hours after the US military announced a new wave of attacks against Iran. The US said the goal of the operation was to weaken Tehran's ability to target commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US attacks over the past 22 hours, saying they were a serious violation of the UN Charter.

The ministry also accused Washington of violating almost all provisions of a memorandum of understanding signed 25 days ago and committing "war crimes" by targeting transportation infrastructure, fishing boats, cargo ships, and weather installations. Furthermore, the US was accused of interfering with regulations related to the Strait of Hormuz, creating distrust in this important waterway and affecting international trade shipping.

According to maritime traffic data from Kpler, only six ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday. The ships leaving the strait included the 'Humankind', a very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iranian crude oil. Another tanker, 'Captain Andreas', was carrying approximately 500,000 barrels of Kuwaiti petroleum products.

Three empty tankers entered the Gulf to load crude oil, according to the data. However, most ships turned off their transponders while passing through the Strait of Hormuz. No liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers were recorded arriving at the strait over the weekend, according to ship tracking data.

Kpler data showed that only one tanker managed by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) left the Strait of Hormuz between July 10 and July 12, which is now heading to the Indian port of Dahij. The US Central Command (Centcom) issued a statement announcing that US armed forces carried out another wave of attacks against Iran on Sunday, targeting dozens of targets with precision weapons.