Sirens sounded in Kuwait as air-defence forces reportedly intercepted suspected Iranian drones. Hours later, a tanker struck a mine and caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz; the IRGC claimed responsibility. The IRGC asserted control of the strait and warned against US interventions, while US Central Command denied the control claim. The incident raises concerns about shipping safety and energy supply disruptions.
Kuwait Intercepts Suspected Iranian Drones; IRGC Claims Tanker Blast in Strait of Hormuz
Smoke billows near the oil facility in Mangaf, Kuwait, July 18, 2026, in this screen grab obtained from a social media video. (photo credit: Social Media/via REUTERS)
Sirens sounded across Kuwait on Thursday morning, the Kuwait Interior Ministry reported, as the country's air-defence units engaged what authorities described as hostile Iranian drone threats. The Kuwaiti army said its systems intercepted the drones and continued to monitor the airspace.
Hours later, an oil tanker struck an apparent mine and erupted into flames in the Strait of Hormuz. Regional reports attributed the mine to Iran, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) subsequently claimed responsibility for the incident.
IRGC statement: 'Three oil tankers, incited and tempted by the US military, attempted to pass through a mined area south of the Strait of Hormuz; following a massive explosion and fire aboard one of the vessels, the other two quickly turned around and retreated.'
The IRGC also asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under its control and reiterated that US interventions in Iran 'have no effect on the world except the energy crisis and the reduction of agricultural fertilizers.' The statement warned that such actions would bring greater discredit and predicted defeat for their opponents. US Central Command denied the IRGC's claim of control over the strait.
There has been no immediate independent confirmation of casualties or the full cause of the explosion. The events highlight heightened tensions in the Gulf and the potential risks to commercial shipping and global energy supplies.
Help us improve.
