The United States and Iran have returned to full-scale war following a major exchange of fire. U.S. forces completed a wave of strikes against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, targeting air defenses and maritime assets along Iran's southern coast. This latest escalation, which began with strikes on Sunday, follows six months of conflict centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian officials report that the U.S. bombardment included a deadly strike on a home hosting a wedding party in the city of Kuhestak. This attack killed at least five people, including a child, and wounded 63 others, including women and children. Iran's health minister stated that the overall wave of U.S. strikes left 18 people dead and 108 injured. While Tehran has labeled the strike on the wedding a war crime, the U.S. military maintains that it never targets civilians, stating the barrage was retaliation against recent attacks on U.S. forces and marine traffic.
In response, Iran launched retaliatory missiles and drones at U.S. bases and allies throughout the Middle East, specifically attacking Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE. Meanwhile, President Trump asserted that the U.S. can hit Iran anytime it wants and called on the Iranian people to rise up and fight.