Iran: The United States launched multiple airstrikes on Iranian missile sites, air defence systems, command centres, and coastal military facilities on Wednesday, while Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The escalation follows the collapse of a fragile US-Iran truce and comes amid continued tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, with both sides exchanging military strikes and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Why Did the US Launch Fresh Strikes on Iran?
US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes targeted Iran’s coastal defence systems, cruise missile launch sites, air defence networks, drone capabilities, and military command centres, including facilities on Greater Tunb Island and in Bandar Abbas. US officials said the operations were aimed at weakening Iran’s military capabilities and supporting efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran says remains closed under its security measures.
How Has Iran Responded to the US Attacks?
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched missile and drone attacks against US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, including Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait. Tehran described the confrontation as an “existential war” with the United States and insisted the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed unless Washington complied with previous bilateral understandings. Despite the military escalation, Iran also released a detained American citizen in what US President Donald Trump described as a “goodwill gesture.”