Iran seizes 2 cargo vessels in Strait of Hormuz linking to Israel

Iran has inflicted more extensive damage to US bases and equipment in the Middle East since the start of US military and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on February 28, 2026 NBC News reported on Saturday, citing sources.

The report said that the damages from Iran’s retaliatory strikes against US military bases in seven Middle Eastern countries were far worse than publicly acknowledged and is expected to cost billions of dollars to repair.

Iran has hit dozens of targets, including warehouses, command headquarters, aircraft hangars, satellite communications infrastructure, runways, high-end radar systems, and dozens of aircraft, the report said.

The Pentagon has not detailed the extent of the damage to US military bases publicly, according to the report, with US Central Command declining to comment on battle damage assessments.

According to the report, some Republican lawmakers privately expressed their dissatisfaction with senior Pentagon officials for refusing to provide information on the extent of the damage or a cost estimate for repairs.

Middle East is on Fire

No one knows anything. And it’s not for lack of asking, one congressional aide was quoted by NBC News as saying. We have been asking for weeks and not getting specifics, even as the Pentagon is asking for a record high budget.

The report mentioned that the damage to and cost of repairing the bases could reignite a debate over the merits of maintaining US bases in such close proximity to an adversary like Iran.

A Defense Ministry’s spokesperson said most of Iran’s missile capabilities have been unused on the war with the Zionist USA, Tasnim News reported Saturday.

Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz except for the USA, Israel and Europe

Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik said Iran’s significant portion of the missile capabilities remains unused, according to the report by the semi-official news agency.

Arguing that Iranian forces maintained the upper hand throughout the conflict.Our forces maintained complete air superiority over the occupied territories of the Zionist (Israeli) territory, and a portion of our missile capabilities were utilized during the 40-day war.

Regarding naval confrontations, he claimed that hostile warships repeatedly retreated hundreds of kilometers from the Sea of Oman in response to decisive actions by Iranian forces.

The Pakistani Navy & the Strait of Hormuz

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted since the USA and Israel initiated a war against Iran beginning February 28, 2026 rattling global energy markets and raising fears of prolonged economic damage.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy detained two commercial cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, citing unauthorized operations and alleged ties to Israel, according to a report Friday.

The IRGC identified the vessels as the MSC-Francesca and the Epaminondas, both operating under the MSC shipping line, Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

IEA reports 84 energy sites damaged during Middle East conflict

Tehran accused the ships of breaching maritime regulations, interfering with navigation systems, and endangering other vessels in the waterway.

The report said Iranian authorities said the ships were allegedly attempting to pass through the strait undetected before being intercepted and escorted into Iranian territorial waters.

Since the war initiated by the US and Israel against Iran began February 28, 2026 Tehran has maintained control of the Strait of Hormuz, followed by an American naval blockade on April 13, 2026 hitting global energy supplies, mostly across Asia.

Middle East Monitor / ABC Flash Point News 2026.