SRINAGAR: The United States has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes against Iran, with the US military saying the operation is intended to weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and to retaliate for an attack on American troops in Jordan that killed two US service members.
In a statement posted on X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes began at 6 p.m. ET on the orders of President Donald Trump.
“Today at 6 pm ET, US forces began launching new airstrikes against Iran at the Commander in Chief’s direction. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night,” CENTCOM said.
According to CENTCOM, the operation targets Iranian military capabilities linked to threats against maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces that Washington blames for the attack on US personnel in Jordan.
The strikes follow Friday’s Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where US and partner forces were defending against the assault. CENTCOM said two American service members were killed in action, one remains missing and four others were wounded during the attack.
The military said the four wounded personnel were medically evacuated to hospitals in Jordan and have since been discharged, while other personnel treated for minor injuries have returned to duty. It added that the identities of the two deceased service members are being withheld until their next of kin have been notified.
CENTCOM has not disclosed the locations targeted in the latest round of airstrikes or released an initial battle damage assessment. Iran had not immediately commented on the operation.
The latest strikes mark a further escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, with Washington stating that the operation is aimed at protecting freedom of navigation through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz while responding to the deadly attack on its forces in Jordan.
