Maritime navigation data showed intense activity by eight U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft over the Gulf and Gulf of Oman, hours after U.S. Central Command announced the downing of two Iranian drones it claimed threatened shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.  

Al Jazeera’s open-source unit had earlier detected widespread navigation signal jamming near the Strait of Hormuz and off the UAE coast since Monday. FlightRadar records indicated at least eight refueling planes flying circular routes over Gulf waters and the Gulf of Oman, with missions lasting more than 13 continuous hours.  

At dawn Saturday, CENTCOM said it carried out strikes targeting Iranian coastal radar sites following Tehran’s drone launches toward the Strait. Shortly afterward, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claimed responsibility for attacks on targets in Kuwait and Bahrain, stating its forces had struck “U.S. bases” in retaliation for the coastal strikes in southern Iran.  

These developments come as the fragile ceasefire remains at risk of collapse due to repeated violations. The truce was brokered by Pakistan on April 8 after the war that erupted on February 28, during which Iran imposed strict restrictions on shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz.