8 Iranian soldiers killed in U.S. strikes

Iran's military public relations confirmed that eight soldiers from its air force and navy died in strikes on Bandar Abbas and Bushehr. The Iranian military issued a statement emphasizing its resolve to combat enemies and seek retribution for the soldiers' fatalities.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump declared during the NATO summit in Ankara that his administration had taken actions that his predecessors avoided for decades. He asserted that the U.S. had destroyed the Iranian military and navy, claiming 159 Iranian ships were sunk and that Iran no longer possesses substantial military capabilities.

This development follows the U.S. announcement of bombing over 80 targets in Iran overnight, a response to attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. In retaliation, the Iranian military launched missile strikes on Bahrain. Kuwait's military also reported intercepting missiles and drones. Bahrain, Kuwait, and several other Persian Gulf states have previously been targets of Iran, and all host U.S. military bases located a few hundred kilometers from Iran.