Efforts to bring peace to the US-Iran conflict were shattered as the situation escalated into intense missile exchanges that posed a threat to the Middle East.
Over 30 people lost their lives and hundreds were wounded in US military strikes, following President Donald Trump’s promise to target civilian infrastructure to break the deadlock in the Strait of Hormuz. In the latest series of airstrikes, US jets and naval forces launched a 90-minute assault on the cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas.
The US Central Command stated that the recent attacks aimed to weaken Iran’s ability to target commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump authorized the escalation after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted international vessels in the area. Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain were also subject to attacks from the IRGC, with Bahrain successfully intercepting and neutralizing Iranian airstrikes.
Iran’s IRGC claimed responsibility for targeting US Fifth Fleet military installations in Bahrain and launching an attack on the Al-Azraq base in Jordan using Kamikaze drones. Multiple structures including F-18 fighter jets, accommodations, and a warehouse were hit in the assault. Iran has conducted six significant drone operations against US bases in the Gulf region since hostilities renewed.
The US has positioned two aircraft carriers and 19 battleships in the Arabian Sea close to Iran in preparation for further military actions. Trump warned of intensified strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure if the regime does not engage in peace negotiations. He emphasized a series of planned attacks on power plants and bridges in the upcoming week if Iran does not return to the negotiating table.
Iran criticized the UK’s decision to label the IRGC as a terrorist organization, warning of potential political and diplomatic repercussions. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denounced the move as unjust and irresponsible, accusing the UK of making baseless security claims. The ministry affirmed Iran’s right to take countermeasures against what it deemed as inappropriate actions by the UK.