Military tensions between Iran and the United States have reached a peak. The US military launched a series of missile and drone strikes targeting Iranian military targets for the ninth consecutive night on Monday. US President Donald Trump claimed that the latest attack was a huge blow to Iran. According to Trump, the action was taken in honor of and in revenge for the three American soldiers who were killed in an Iranian attack in recent days. Two of the killed soldiers were deployed in Jordan and one in Iraq. US Central Command (CENTCOM) issued a statement on Monday morning stating that this new series of attacks was launched to stop Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz and to weaken Tehran's military capabilities. US military targeted Iran's coastal surveillance systems, communications networks and missile storage facilities. Meanwhile, Iran also said that it had launched a surprise retaliatory attack in Syria in response to the US attack. Similarly, Iran claims that US military aircraft at Aqaba airport in Jordan were targeted. Meanwhile, Kuwait's military said that some Iranian drones that tried to enter its airspace were destroyed.

According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, US missiles fell on the major Iranian cities of Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini. Loud explosions were heard at those sites.

Tensions are also rising in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media has claimed that two oil tankers exploded while trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the tankers were using the unsafe southern route. However, the US Central Command has denied this claim by Iran.

The IRGC has warned, 'As long as the US continues to attack Iran, not a single drop of petrochemical products or oil and gas will be allowed to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz and will be severely punished.'