IRGC Claims Strike on US Patriot System in Kuwait as Hormuz Mine Fire Threatens Oil Transit
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 23
IRGC Claims Strike on US Patriot System in Kuwait as Hormuz Mine Fire Threatens Oil Transit
3 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 23
Summary
Ali al-Salem Air Base was among the Kuwaiti sites the IRGC said it hit Thursday, claiming damage to a US Patriot missile system, a military equipment warehouse, helicopters, drones and a telecommunications tower.
The Guard Corps said the strikes were retaliation for alleged US interference in the Strait of Hormuz, while Kuwait's army said earlier it had confronted a wave of Iranian drone attacks.
In the same statement, the IRGC said an oil tanker caught fire after hitting a mine in the strait and claimed responsibility for planting it, warning the waterway would stay closed to oil tankers while US forces remain in the region.
CENTCOM disputed Iran's closure claim on Wednesday, saying the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial transit even as US forces enforce a blockade on Iranian ports.
With strategic oil reserves depleted, is the world economy prepared for Iran’s permanent control over the Strait of Hormuz?
Can the US destroy Iran's fortified 'Pickaxe Mountain' nuclear site without triggering an uncontrollable, region-wide war?
Does the US-Saudi nuclear deal, permitting uranium enrichment, risk sparking a new nuclear arms race in the Middle East?
The 2026 US-Iran Conflict: Collapse of the Hormuz Ceasefire and Its Global Repercussions
Overview
In July 2026, the collapse of a fragile ceasefire deal brokered by Pakistan led to renewed conflict in the region. Both sides—Hezbollah, Israel, Iran, and the US—violated the agreement, making a comprehensive settlement unlikely. Tensions escalated as the US accused Iran of stalling nuclear talks, while Iran blamed the US for failing to enforce a ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon. The situation worsened when the US launched airstrikes, targeting Iran’s critical infrastructure, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guard accused the US of openly violating the Islamabad understanding, plunging the region deeper into crisis.