DUBAI/WASHINGTON: The United States and Iran launched fresh military attacks against each other on Thursday, extending hostilities into a second day and further weakening a fragile ceasefire reached in April.
The latest escalation follows the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, an incident that triggered a series of retaliatory operations by both sides across Iran and against US military installations in the region.
The US military said its overnight campaign targeted Iranian surveillance facilities, communication networks, and air defence systems, describing the action as a response to Tehran’s continued aggression.
US President Donald Trump warned that military operations could intensify unless Iran immediately agrees to a peace settlement. According to comments shared by Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, Trump said the strikes would end soon but could resume if negotiations fail.
Global energy markets reacted swiftly, with oil prices climbing nearly $3 a barrel amid concerns that the conflict could disrupt supplies from the Gulf region.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for retaliatory attacks on 18 US military positions, including bases in Kuwait and Bahrain and the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet headquarters. It also announced a second night of missile strikes on Jordan’s al-Azraq air base.
Kuwait reported that its air defence systems intercepted hostile aerial objects, while Bahrain confirmed that its forces successfully destroyed incoming Iranian projectiles before they reached their targets.
Iran’s military leadership warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted, with local media claiming two US ships had come under fire. However, US Central Command rejected those reports, insisting the strategic waterway remains open and commercial shipping continues despite heightened tensions.
Explosions were reported in several Iranian cities, including Sirik, Kargan, Bandar Abbas, Minab, Karaj, and Varamin, reflecting the widening scope of military activity.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strikes as part of a strategy to strengthen Washington’s position both militarily and diplomatically, expressing hope that increased pressure would push Tehran toward an agreement.
Although intermittent negotiations have continued, repeated exchanges of fire have prevented any lasting breakthrough. Earlier this week, US forces struck Iranian radar and air defence sites following the helicopter incident, prompting missile and drone attacks by Iran on American facilities in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. US officials reported no significant damage.
Iran also accused Washington of hitting water reservoirs supplying 10 villages, calling the attack a violation of international law and a deliberate strike on civilian infrastructure. The Pentagon has not publicly responded to the allegation.
The conflict, now in its fourth month, has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted nearly one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, contributing to rising energy prices worldwide.
Meanwhile, clashes continued on another front in Lebanon, where Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed at least 13 people in the south, while Hezbollah announced additional attacks against Israeli forces. The Israeli military also reported incoming projectiles near its troops in southern Lebanon after warning sirens sounded across parts of northern Israel.
Iran maintains that any peace agreement must include an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, the removal of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and recognition of its authority over the Strait of Hormuz. The United States, meanwhile, insists that freedom of navigation through the strait must be guaranteed and that any deal must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons—an ambition Tehran continues to deny.
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