Iran threatens to attack ships and strikes back after US and Israel hit targets

The United States and Israel launched military strikes against targets in Iran, reportedly killing hundreds of people. The operation, referred to as Operation Epic Fury, involved several warplanes and cost an estimated $779 million on its first day.

In response, Iran retaliated with strikes of its own, targeting locations in Kuwait, including the US embassy, and setting off sirens in Tel Aviv. Iran's Revolutionary Guard also issued a direct threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane, and to attack any ship that tries to pass through it.

The situation has escalated tensions in the Gulf region significantly. A top U.S. general has begun outlining the timeline of the initial operation, while reports indicate the U.S. military used artificial intelligence from a company called Anthropic to assist in the strikes, despite a previous ban by President Trump.