TEHRAN/JERUSALEM/NEW DELHI/LONDON/BAGHDAD/KUWAIT CITY - Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Thursday that it struck and destroyed 18 US "important targets" in response to fresh US attacks on Iran.

The IRGC launched a drone attack on the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"In this wave of military drone attacks, the communications antennas and radar installations of the Fifth Fleet's Patriot system were targeted," the report said. 

Bahrain and Kuwait said their air defense forces intercepted missiles and drones. Kuwait announced a temporary closure of its airspace after Iranian attacks as a precautionary measure.

In an X post, Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority also announced the diversion of flights to alternative airports.

US base in Jordan targeted

The IRGC said it also struck the US al-Azraq base in Jordan with 12 ballistic missiles in response to US attacks on Iran, the country's official news agency IRNA reported.

The latest strikes targeted US fighter jets, including F35, F15 and F16, key facilities, and a control center at the air base, IRNA reported, citing an IRGC announcement.

CENTCOM: Strikes completed

Meanwhile, the US Central Command said it had completed additional strikes against multiple Iranian targets and that the strikes were in response to Iran's "unwarranted and continued aggression."

Separately, Iranian media reported explosions in the southern city of Sirik and in Abik in Qazvin province in the west, alongside reports of drone activity in other areas.

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Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump said Washington had been engaged in direct communications with Iranian officials. Tehran denied the claim. 

The latest strikes came after Trump said earlier Wednesday that US forces would continue military action against Iran following attacks launched on Tuesday, after the downing of a US Army helicopter that Washington alleges was carried out by Iran on Monday.

Trump also wrote on Truth Social that Iran had "taken too long to negotiate a deal" and would have to "pay the price."

Iran's Pezeshkian: US infra threats show desperation

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Wednesday that US threats to target Iran's critical infrastructure are a sign of its desperation in the face of the nation's will.

He made the remarks in a post on social media platform X, reacting to threats uttered earlier in the day by Trump, who said he may order new strikes on Iran's power plants and bridges over Tehran's "delay" in signing a deal with Washington.

"Vital infrastructure constitutes the people's lifeblood. Threatening to target them, from transportation networks to the electricity and water industries, is not a show of power, but a sign of desperation in the face of a nation's will," Pezeshkian said.

Report: US, Iran forces clash at sea

Clashes erupted early Thursday between Iranian and US forces in the waters of the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, as Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's main military command, announced the full closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Initial reports indicated that US ships near the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by missiles and drones launched by Iranian armed forces.

Blasts were also heard in the counties of Sirik and Minab and the port city of Bandar Abbas, all in Hormozgan province, as well as on Qeshm and Hengam islands, while air defense systems were activated west of the capital Tehran and in the southern province of Fars, Mehr reported.

Following the incidents, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said the Strait of Hormuz has been closed to all kinds of vessels, including oil tankers and commercial ships, owing to security threats in the waterway.

The headquarters cited the continuation of the US "malicious acts" and attacks earlier in the day in Iran's southern Hormozgan province, saying any vessel trying to pass through the strait will be targeted.

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However, CENTCOM said Wednesday that commercial vessels continue to transit the Strait of Hormuz, contradicting the IRGC. It added that no US warships have been hit, dismissing Iranian media reports claiming an attack on an American vessel in the strait.

India, IMO condemn attack on tanker

Also on Wednesday, the Indian government and the International Maritime Organization on Wednesday condemned in separate statements an attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman that had 24 Indian crew onboard. According to India's foreign ministry, 21 of them have been rescued, while three others are reportedly missing.

"Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and proactively coordinating with the Omani authorities in the ongoing Search and Rescue operation," the ministry said in a statement.

READ MORE: US forces down 2 Iranian drones that allegedly threatened Hormuz ships

The IMO said the Palau-flagged tanker MT Settebello caught fire after reportedly being struck by a projectile off the coast of Oman. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed deep concern over the incident, saying any act endangering the lives of seafarers and the safety of international shipping was "simply unacceptable."

In a separate statement on Wednesday, CENTCOM said US forces had disabled the tanker in the Gulf of Oman late Tuesday. According to CENTCOM, a US military aircraft fired precision munitions into the vessel's engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces.

Missile fragments hit Israeli air base

Meanwhile, the Israeli military confirmed that he Ramat David Air Base in northern Israel was hit by missile fragments during the latest escalation with Iran.

The hit caused minor damage to the base but did not disrupt flight operations, an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) official told Israel's state-owned Army Radio.

Previously, Israeli media reports, citing satellite imagery, have said that the key Israeli military base appeared to have been hit.

US Embassy in Iraq urges citizens to leave

In Baghdad, the US Embassy in Iraq on late Wednesday night issued a security alert advising US citizens in the country to maintain heightened readiness and stay alert amid unfolding regional developments.

In a statement, the embassy warned that travel disruptions and airspace closures could occur on short notice due to the current regional situation. It also reminded US citizens of its "Level 4: Do Not Travel" warning, the highest level of travel advisory issued by the US State Department.

"Do not travel to Iraq for any reason. Leave now if you are there," the embassy urged its citizens.