BREAKING: Iran says it targeted a U.S. airbase in retaliation for earlier American strikes near Bandar Abbas, close to the Strait of Hormuz, in a sharp new escalation between Washington and Tehran.

U.S. officials said American forces struck an Iranian military site in Bandar Abbas and destroyed several Iranian attack drones that were allegedly threatening U.S. forces and commercial shipping in the area. The targeted site was reportedly being used to control additional drone activity near one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors.

The IRGC claimed responsibility for the retaliatory strike and warned that any further American action would be met with a stronger response. Reports have pointed to U.S.-linked military facilities in Kuwait, though full details on the target, damage, and casualties remain unclear.

Oil prices jumped sharply after the exchange, with markets reacting to fears that the conflict could further threaten shipping and energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway remains one of the most important chokepoints for global oil and gas supplies, meaning even limited military exchanges can trigger immediate pressure on energy markets.

The latest strikes come as U.S.-Iran tensions remain extremely high despite ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at stabilizing the Gulf and reopening secure shipping through Hormuz. Both sides are now accusing the other of violating the fragile calm, raising fears that a limited exchange could quickly spiral into a wider regional confrontation.