Iran Hits Back After US Carries Out Ninth Consecutive Night of Strikes
US-Iran hostilities escalate; Strait of Hormuz disruption sparks global energy fears
Washington/Tehran: The United States and Iran have edged closer to a full-scale regional confrontation after another wave of military strikes and retaliatory attacks intensified tensions across the Middle East. As both sides continue exchanging blows, commercial shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and pushing Brent crude prices above $90 per barrel. The rapidly escalating conflict has raised fears of wider regional instability, with Gulf states on high alert and growing concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
The United States military announced that it had completed its ninth consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the operation struck Iranian military command centres, air defence systems, coastal surveillance facilities, missile and drone launch sites, maritime capabilities and communication networks as Washington intensified its campaign against Tehran.
The latest strikes followed the deaths of three American service members. Two US troops were reportedly killed during an Iranian attack on an American military base in Jordan, while another service member died in Iraq during the controlled detonation of a downed Iranian drone. Speaking after returning to Washington from the FIFA Club World Cup final, US President Donald Trump defended the operation, saying the strikes were carried out in honour of the fallen soldiers.
“We hit them very hard again tonight,” Trump told reporters, describing the deceased troops as “three great patriots.”
Iran responded by announcing fresh military operations. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had launched a “surprise attack” on an enemy command centre in Syria, according to Iranian state media.
The conflict quickly spread across the Gulf region. Kuwait’s armed forces said their air defence systems intercepted hostile aerial targets, adding that explosions heard across parts of the country were the result of successful interception operations. The statement came a day after Iran claimed responsibility for targeting two US military bases in Kuwait.
Bahrain also activated nationwide missile warning sirens after authorities warned residents of an incoming Iranian missile attack, underscoring fears that the conflict could draw more regional countries into direct confrontation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of attempting to use the Strait of Hormuz as leverage against the international community. Speaking before departing for the Philippines to attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Rubio urged allied nations to contribute more resources toward safeguarding international shipping.
He said the United States would continue protecting maritime trade but insisted that other countries should share the responsibility by providing military equipment, financial support and additional resources to maintain freedom of navigation through the critical waterway.
The renewed fighting has significantly disrupted commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy corridors through which nearly a fifth of global oil supplies pass. The slowdown in tanker traffic has rattled global markets, driving Brent crude prices above $90 per barrel amid fears of prolonged supply disruptions.
Despite the escalating military campaign, Rubio said Washington remains willing to pursue diplomacy if Iran agrees to honour any future agreement, stressing that any deal must be credible and fully implemented.
Meanwhile, Iranian state television reported that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the United States that continued attacks would bring “unforgettable lessons.” In a statement broadcast on state television, he reportedly dismissed President Trump’s signature on the interim ceasefire agreement as “worthless and invalid,” while Iranian negotiators were said to have suspended their commitments under the temporary arrangement.
Iranian media also reported heavy damage to civilian infrastructure following recent US airstrikes. State news agency IRNA said the Bonji desalination plant in Hormozgan Province was destroyed, disrupting water supplies to around 10,000 residents, while another desalination facility on the strategically important Qeshm Island was also damaged.
IRNA further reported that three bridges, including one linking major transport routes to Bandar Abbas, Iran’s largest commercial port near the Strait of Hormuz, were struck during the attacks.
With military operations continuing on multiple fronts and diplomatic efforts showing little progress, the crisis between Washington and Tehran appears to be entering an increasingly dangerous phase. Analysts warn that any further escalation could threaten global energy supplies, disrupt international trade and draw additional countries into one of the most volatile conflicts in the Middle East in recent years.