The United States has launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran, escalating a conflict that has drawn in multiple Middle Eastern nations. The U.S. military's Central Command said the latest strikes targeted facilities linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard, including coastal surveillance, air defenses, and missile storage sites.
The action was in direct response to the killing of U.S. troops in Jordan on Friday. Iran subsequently fired missiles toward Jordan, a key U.S. ally. Jordan's military intercepted the projectiles, but the attack raised fears of a wider regional spillover, prompting Israel to warn of potential cross-border fire.
The conflict has severely disrupted global shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz. A U.S.-led naval blockade is in effect, and maritime traffic has plummeted from a pre-war average of nearly 140 daily transits to just a handful.
Iran's atomic energy agency claimed U.S. strikes also hit a nuclear power plant under construction in the southwest. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed the site was in the early stages of construction and contained no nuclear material.
The fighting has caused significant casualties on both sides. Since the war began, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and over 430 wounded. Iranian authorities report at least 50 people killed in the latest U.S. strikes.
