Tehran: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran said on Friday that it hit and stopped two oil tankers that disregarded its warnings and attempted to travel through the Strait of Hormuz via an undeclared route under the air escort of the US army.
In a statement, the IRGC said it also forced four other oil tankers to turn back.
The IRGC Navy has once again warned that illegal interventions, orders and prohibitions of the US army to vessels in the region will not go unanswered, said the statement.
Meanwhile, Iran also attacked US facilities at Kuwait's Al-Jaber Air Base in retaliation for recent US attacks on Qeshm Island in southern Iran.
According to the statement, the drone strikes in the 27th phase of Operation Lightning targeted US fighter jet shelters, satellite communications systems, and equipment depots.
The Iranian military stressed that the base not only hosts a large number of US air and reconnaissance missions, but also serves as one of the key air logistics hubs for US forces in the region.
The tensions between US and Iran have been affecting global trade due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz since February 28.
On Thursday, the US military redirected 24 commercial vessels as part of its maritime blockade against Iran.
CENTCOM said US forces continued to enforce the blockade on Thursday.
In a post on social media platform X, the command said that, as of Thursday, US forces had compelled 24 commercial vessels to alter their routes, disabled two ships and boarded two others to verify compliance with the blockade.
The command also said a US Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, refueled by a US Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker during flight, was conducting surveillance over regional waters in support of the operation.