The US military carried out a new round of air strikes against Iran overnight, targeting military sites across the country in an effort to weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
US Central Command said, marking the tenth consecutive night of strikes as tensions between the two nations continue to escalate rapidly.
President Donald Trump had earlier said Iran was hit “very hard” the previous night, describing the strikes as being carried out in honor of three US soldiers recently killed, two in Jordan and one in Iraq.
The latest strikes hit Iranian military command centers, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and air defense systems. Commercial vessels have continued moving through the strait according to the BBC report.
Iran’s state news agency, IRNAreported that Iran struck two oil tankers in the strait, along with US military assets in Bahrain and Kuwait. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said the country is now engaged in a “full scale war” with the United States.
Despite the collapse of an earlier ceasefire, Tehran said diplomatic messages were still being exchanged between both sides through intermediaries.
According to IRNA, rescue crews worked to evacuate personnel from the two tankers Iran said it struck. Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker in the strait was reported to be hit by an unidentified projectile, forcing its crew to abandon ship, it remains unclear whether this vessel matches those referenced in Iran’s account.
Jordan’s military said it shot down three Iranian missiles Monday night as air raid sirens sounded nationwide. Kuwait’s armed forces reported intercepting Iranian drones earlier the same day, while Bahrain said Iranian drones targeted its air navigation systems, although traffic was not disrupted.