Tehran/Washington/Kuwait City/Sana'a, 23 July (H.S.): The United States has carried out an airstrike on Iran's southern port city of Bushehr, home to the country's only operational civilian nuclear power plant. The US military has now conducted strikes on Iran for the 12th consecutive night. In response, Iran's armed forces launched drones and missiles targeting countries allied with the United States. Kuwait has activated its nationwide air defence systems, while the conflict centred around the Strait of Hormuz has further widened with the open involvement of Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement.

According to Al Jazeera, citing Iran's state-run Tasnim News Agency, Bushehr Governor Mohammad Mozaffari said that the US military had launched an attack on the southern coastal city, triggering a powerful explosion. Emergency response teams have been deployed to the affected area. Bushehr, located on the coast of the Persian Gulf, serves as the capital of Bushehr Province and is best known for hosting Iran's only operational nuclear power plant. Built with Russian assistance, the facility is situated approximately 17 kilometres south of the city centre.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X that, under the orders of President Donald Trump, additional strikes against Iranian military installations commenced at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. CENTCOM stated that the operations were intended to further degrade Iran's capability to threaten civilian and commercial maritime shipping in the region.

Meanwhile, Kuwait's armed forces announced that air defence systems had been activated across the country to counter potential drone attacks originating from Iran. Kuwait's General Staff said residents should not panic if they hear explosions, explaining that such sounds could result from the interception and destruction of hostile drones.

Iran's chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that the regional situation would not change unless Iran received credible security guarantees. Iran's Ministry of Health stated that at least 53 people have been killed in US attacks across the country since June 27.

At the same time, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for destroying two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea using missiles and drones. In a statement posted on the group's Telegram channel, the Houthis identified the vessels as Anselia and Layla. Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation confirmed an attack on a tanker approximately 70 nautical miles (130 kilometres) off the Saudi Arabian city of Al-Shuqaiq.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar