The United States military has launched a “heavy wave” of retaliatory strikes against Iran for its recent attack on American bases in Jordan, escalating tensions in the Middle East war. The US President, Donald Trump, had vowed to hit Iran “hard” after Tehran’s missiles struck at Jordan, but the latest round of strikes appears to have dashed hopes of a quick return to negotiations between the two nations.
The US military completed a heavy wave of strikes against Iran on Thursday, targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRG) targets including military command centers and US Central Command (Centocom). The strikes aimed to further diminish threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf countries. The US military said the strikes were successful in achieving their objectives.
Iran’s state news agency reported hits on several cities in the southwestern Khuzestan province, as well as on Qeshm island in the Gulf. Areas around the cities of Abadan, Shadegan, Arvandkenar and Ahvaz — all in Khuzestan — were struck, with reports of civilian casualties including a two-year-old child killed in a residential home in the Chah Tangu neighborhood of Qeshm.
The attack on Qeshm island killed three people, including a two-year-old, according to Fars news agency. The incident highlighted the ongoing tensions between Iran and its neighbors, particularly Saudi Arabia and Iraq, which have been targeted by US-led strikes against militant bases in Iraq and Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities.
In response to the attacks on Qeshm island, Israel accused Hezbollah of a truce violation, while Saudi Arabia announced additional strikes on Iranian-backed militant groups. The United States has also joined the fray, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visiting both countries earlier this month to discuss disarmament and security concerns.
The world’s biggest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, has reported two days of drone attacks targeting crude facilities in Iraq that it blames on Iraqi armed groups allied with Tehran. Meanwhile, Jordan’s army said it had intercepted five Iranian missiles after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed to have targeted US bases there.
As the conflict continues to spread, tensions are running high between Iran and its regional allies. The IRGC has vowed to continue fighting against American forces and neighboring Gulf countries, while Israel has accused Hezbollah of deploying a drone overnight against an Israeli vehicle inside Lebanon.
The latest round of strikes appears to have pushed the world’s major powers further apart in their efforts to resolve the conflict. With no clear resolution in sight, it remains to be seen whether the US military can achieve its objectives and bring an end to the fighting. The situation continues to unfold as reports emerge on both sides of the conflict.
Source: Dawn
Based on reporting from Dawn.
