The United States and Iran have exchanged military strikes in the Persian Gulf, prompting the Royal Navy to raise its alert status in the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation, which began early this morning, marks a significant deterioration in regional stability.
According to Pentagon officials, US naval assets in the Gulf were targeted by Iranian anti-ship missiles at 3:10 AM local time. Two US destroyers, the USS Arleigh Burke and USS Gonzalez, were involved. The USS Arleigh Burke sustained a direct hit to its superstructure, resulting in 12 casualties. The USS Gonzalez, though not hit, reported shrapnel damage from nearby explosions. The USS Gonzalez returned fire, and a third US vessel, the USS San Jacinto, struck at Iranian coastal batteries and radar installations on the Bushehr peninsula.
In retaliation, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles from submarines in the Arabian Sea against Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps facilities near Bandar Abbas and on Qeshm Island. Iranian state media reported at least 15 military personnel killed and extensive damage to radar and communications infrastructure.
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Royal Navy’s HMS Diamond, currently on patrol in the Gulf, has been placed at “immediate readiness” and ordered to maintain safe distance from Iranian waters. The Royal Navy has also increased air patrol coverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for one-fifth of global oil shipments.
Sources within the Joint Maritime Operations Centre in Bahrain confirm that the Royal Navy’s two other vessels in the region, HMS Montrose and HMS Duncan, have been rerouted to provide support.
The strikes follow a period of heightened tension after Iran’s seizure of a commercial tanker in the Strait of Hormuz last week. The US Fifth Fleet described the seizure as an “act of maritime terrorism”. Iran has since accused the US of violating its territorial waters, and the US has warned of further action if shipping is disrupted.
Diplomatic sources indicate both sides are now engaged in backchannel communications via Omani and Swiss intermediaries, though no formal ceasefire has been proposed. The UN Security Council is expected to convene an emergency session this afternoon.
The immediate concern is the safety of commercial shipping. The International Maritime Organisation has urged vessels to avoid the Strait of Hormuz for the next 48 hours. Several major oil tankers have already diverted to alternative routes.
The situation remains volatile. Analysts believe neither side intended to escalate to direct military confrontation, but miscalculation may now lead to a protracted conflict. The US has not ruled out further strikes, and Iran has promised a “devastating response” to any aggression.
In London, the Prime Minister will chair an emergency COBRA meeting later today to assess British interests in the region, including the protection of energy supplies. The Foreign Office has advised all British nationals in southern Iran to leave immediately.
The Royal Navy maintains a permanent presence in the Gulf, and its alert status is now the highest since the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.
