The U.S. military launched a heavy wave of strikes against Iran on Wednesday, hitting dozens of targets in a two-hour operation. The strikes, described as a powerful response, targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard targets, including military command centres and drone facilities. Targets across southern Iran were hit, including locations on strategic Qeshm Island and in Bushehr.
The operation followed a vow from President Donald Trump to hit Iran very hard after Tehran launched ballistic missiles at U.S. forces in Jordan and targeted other U.S. allies, including Egypt and the Gulf Arab states. Iran also claimed to have targeted three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. These hostilities ended several days of relative calm and a brief detente, occurring shortly after Trump claimed progress was being made in discussions between Washington and Tehran.
The regional conflict has further widened with joint U.S.-Saudi attacks in Iraq, which Iranian media report killed four Iranians. In retaliation for the U.S. strikes, Iran vowed to punish the United States, stating it struck Kuwait and continued attacks on Gulf states. Additionally, Jordan reported intercepting missiles shortly after the U.S. struck Iranian sites.
These renewed military actions have raised the risk of a return to all-out war and further expansion of the crisis in the region. Despite the escalation, little is clear about what strategy American or Iranian officials have for a path forward.