The United States and Iran have exchanged heavy military strikes across the Middle East for a second consecutive day, putting a severe strain on the fragile ceasefire agreed between the two nations back in April.
US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed it successfully completed a wave of “self-defense strikes” targeting military, surveillance, and radar sites located in southern Iran.
The military action came just hours after President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Truth Social, vowing that US forces would hit Iran “hard” and stating that Tehran leaders had taken “too long to negotiate a deal” to permanently end the conflict. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the president’s stance, warning that bombs would continue “dropping on key facilities” if a peace agreement is not secured.
Tehran Responds with Missiles and Drone Salvos
Tehran responded swiftly to the American operation, launching a round of retaliatory strikes targeting US military assets throughout the region. US military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait came under Iranian fire for the second day in a row.
Additionally, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it fired 12 ballistic missiles at the Muwaffaq Salti Airbase in Jordan, a key US command center, claiming to have destroyed a large number of US fighter jets and facilities. These claims have not yet been independently verified.
The escalation caused widespread disruption across the region:
- Bahrain: Air raid sirens were activated in the capital city of Manama and Hamad Town. Falling shrapnel from intercepted Iranian drones damaged residential homes and vehicles, leaving an 11-year-old girl injured.
- Kuwait: Anti-air defense systems successfully intercepted hostile aerial targets. Officials temporarily closed Kuwaiti airspace before reopening it early Thursday.
Strait of Hormuz Explosions Send Oil Prices Rising
State media in Iran reported multiple explosions around the capital city of Tehran, the port city of Bandar Abbas, and vital strategic areas near the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC announced that the crucial shipping channel was “completely closed to all types of vessels” and claimed to have struck two oil tankers passing through the area. While Centcom countered by stating that commercial ships are continuing to transit safely, global energy markets reacted immediately. Brent crude oil prices surged by roughly 2%, climbing to around $95 a barrel following the news.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stood firm against the US pressure, stating that Iran “will stand firm against any pressure or threat,” while the Iranian foreign ministry accused Washington of damaging the diplomatic process.
UN Warns of Full-Scale Escalation
The recent surge in hostilities began earlier this week after a US helicopter was downed in an attack blamed on Iran, prompting immediate US retaliation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the rapidly deteriorating situation, warning via a statement on X that the Middle East is being pulled deeper into a major crisis. Guterres noted that the recent exchanges mean the current “ceasefire is more like a lesser-fire,” adding a grim warning: “We should not minimize the risks of lesser fire becoming full fire. All parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement. No more attacks. No more excuses.”