The United States military has struck targets in Iran for the second time in a week, and Tehran has responded by firing missiles and drones at various sites across the region, as hostilities flare again in what has become an intermittent war lasting more than six months.
US Central Command said in a statement on Tuesday evening that it had completed the latest barrage against Iranian military targets, including air defence sites, radar systems and maritime assets. The strikes followed others on Sunday that ended a month without military action and threatened to fully reignite a conflict that has spiked global oil prices and posed political problems for Republicans in November's midterm congressional elections.
Trump warns of heavier retaliation
President Donald Trump warned on social media: "If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings."
US Central Command said the latest strikes were in response to Tehran trying to attack commercial ships and American forces in the Middle East. Trump offered an additional explanation, telling Fox News in a phone call that US forces struck Iran's radars. "They tried to rebuild their radar because they can't see anything," Trump told Fox. "We waited until it was almost built and then we hit it."
The renewed fighting comes after Trump had appeared to pivot toward trying to bend Iran to his will through economic sanctions. The Trump administration had argued that sanctions would push Tehran to its breaking point, according to reporting this week.
Civilian casualties reported
A US strike hit a home where a wedding ceremony was being held in Kuhestak in southern Iran, killing five people, including a child, and wounding at least 68 others, according to Ahmad Nafisi, deputy governor of Hormozgan Province. Iranian state media reported US strikes on civilian sites and a civilian airport, including a fishmeal factory on Qeshm Island and the civilian Jiroft Airport. Explosions were reported across several southern Iranian coastal areas, including Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a US Central Command spokesman, said the military is aware of the reports of civilian casualties but noted that they "originated from Iranian state media." He said the US military never targets civilians.
Regional retaliation and interceptions
After the US attacks started, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Jordan. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed to have targeted a US base along Jordan's Gulf of Aqaba coast, according to Iran's state television. Jordan's military said it shot down 10 of the missiles and that the three remaining landed in unpopulated areas.
The Kuwaiti Army said it intercepted drone attacks "following the criminal Iranian aggression." Iran also said it launched a drone attack at US forces in Bahrain.
Iran's armed forces promised "crushing and devastating blows" against the United States. The state news agency IRNA cited a statement by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard that attacks have strengthened Iran's resolve and tightened Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Economic and diplomatic fallout
Oil prices rose sharply this week, with crude up about 7% and having jumped more than 50% this year. US stockpiles of advanced interceptors have been diminishing, and the war has been unpopular among many Americans. A return to open conflict would be dangerous for the region, where Iran has targeted US military bases and infrastructure in Gulf countries.
In a separate development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is ready to return to the interim ceasefire deal if the US does the same. The June interim deal had called for an immediate ceasefire and started a 60-day negotiation period, but it crumbled.