Iran claims strikes on US forces in Kuwait, UAE; US hits 18M barrels in Hormuz

Iran claims it struck American forces in Kuwait and the UAE, while US sources report destroying 18 million barrels of oil in a single day as part of ongoing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The US appears to be avoiding broad escalation, with strikes described as 'mowing the grass.' The aircraft carrier Lincoln's poor condition after a 268-day mission suggests strain on US naval assets. This marks a direct Iranian provocation against US forces, escalating the conflict in the Gulf.