Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped sharply since fighting began in February
The US forces conducted new military strikes on Iranian targets on Wednesday after Tehran launched drones toward commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to officials, American fighter jets shot down four Iranian attack drones before they could hit ships in the strategic waterway. The US also said that the forces then destroyed a drone-control station near Bandar Abbas in southern Iran after it threatened American troops and commercial traffic.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had struck a US base.
The new strikes also affected neighboring Kuwait on Thursday morning, with its military saying it was receiving hostile missiles and drones. Residents were told to take cover.
Despite the clashes, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US still prefers diplomacy and hopes to reopen the Strait of Hormuz safely.
The conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets. Oil prices rebounded nearly 2% after reports of the strikes, while ship traffic through Hormuz has dropped sharply since fighting began in February.
The waterway normally handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments, making it critical for global trade and energy supplies.