U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that forces have begun a “series of powerful strikes” against Iran, in response to recent attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Multiple explosions in the last few minutes on Qeshm Island in Southern Iran.

Explosions from U.S. retaliatory strikes also heard in Sirik and Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province of Southern Iran.

Several fast boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC-N) were reportedly targeted at the Port of Sirik, in the Hormozgan Province of Southern Iran.

Fires seen burning at the Port of Shahid Haqqani in Bandar Abbas, Southern Iran, following tonight’s wave of retaliatory strikes against Iranian military and infrastructure sites by the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the U.S. strikes across Southern Iran, saying that it is a violation of the U.S.-Iran MOU, despite Iran first targeting three tankers as they transited the Strait of Hormuz, a violation in and of itself. Per the release, Iran “holds the U.S. government responsible” for their expected response, which will likely be a resumption of Iranian strikes on U.S. bases and infrastructure in neighboring Gulf countries.

According to @BarakRavid, citing a U.S. official, today’s strikes in Iran, that targeted air defense sites, surface-to-air missiles, coastal surveillance systems, drone launch sites, port facilities, and anti-ship cruise missile installations, were scaled up ‘four or five’ times, in relation to past U.S. responses to Iranian MOU violations.

As reports of additional U.S. strikes against Iranian targets abound, CNN has been told by a U.S. official that these strikes are “punishment, not proportional,” and that said strikes will not be as quick-ending as past U.S. retaliatory strikes in response to Iranian provocations. Retaliatory Iranian strikes on Gulf countries are now expected in the coming hours and days.

This is the current visible military air picture over the Middle East as U.S. strikes against Iranian targets continue in response to the attacks on four commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Visible at this hour are at least 12 U.S. Air Force aerial refueling aircraft, 4 KC-135R "Stratotankers" and 8 KC-46A "Pegasus", along with a U.S. Navy P-8A "Poseidon" maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft.

Also active are two multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft operated by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting continued regional support for coalition air operations.

According to Axios, citing a U.S. official, U.S. President Donald J. Trump approved ongoing retaliatory strikes on Iran after meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent while in Turkey for the ongoing NATO summit. U.S. officials also told Axios’s Barak Ravid that “We’ll get the assessment about the results of the strikes and make decisions after.”

According to a release from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the U.S. has completed its latest round of retaliatory strikes against Iran, following their targeting of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Per the release, over 80 targets, including air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities, and more than 60 IRGC small craft, were hit in the strikes. U.S. officials have told news outlets that they will assess the outcomes of these strikes before moving forward.

Early reports from Iranian state-backed news outlets are now saying that Uran has targeted Bahrain, specifically the U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters there, in retaliation for U.S. retaliatory strikes on key military infrastructure across Southern Iran.

Barak Ravid of Axios, citing a U.S. official, has confirmed reports of Iranian strikes against Bahrain, with the official telling him that Iran has launched drones against the Gulf country.

An additional wave of Iranian strikes appears to be underway, as Bahrain’s ministry of the interior has announced that alarm sirens are active, saying people should seek shelter.

According to a release from the Kuwaiti Army, Kuwait is now under attack from Iranian drones and missiles, as Kuwaiti air defenses work to mitigate the threat.

According to Iranian state-backed news outlet, Fars, the IRGC has said that in response to U.S. retaliatory strikes tonight, they targeted 85 targets in Bahrain and Kuwait, saying that Kuwait’s Ali Salem Airbase and the U.S. Fifth Fleet Headquarters in Manama, Bahrain were targeted.