The US military launched strikes on dozens of targets in Iran overnight, retaliating for Tehran’s attack on American forces in Jordan on Wednesday. This has triggered a further response from Iran and raised doubts about the chances of peace talks succeeding.
These strikes—the first in over five days—came just hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran “very hard” following Tehran’s attack on a base in Jordan that houses US troops. The latest attacks follow a pause in violence between the two sides that lasted several days.
US Central Command said it hit dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in Iran, including military command centers, as well as missile and drone facilities, in a two-hour wave of strikes.
“The strikes aimed to further reduce the threats posed by Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf countries,” the command said in a statement.
Iranian state media reported that three people were injured in attacks on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, and explosions were also reported in Khuzestan province to the northwest.
Jordan reported incoming missiles for the second day in a row, while Kuwait accused Iran of carrying out a strike that hit a building, killing one person. Both strikes are believed to be part of Iran’s retaliation against the US attacks.
Mediators insisted that talks were still ongoing despite the renewed exchange of strikes. Pakistani foreign ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the key mediator was doing its “utmost to bring all parties back” to the negotiating table.
“Negotiations between parties are ongoing, particularly on the Strait of Hormuz and to de-escalate,” Andrabi told reporters in Islamabad on Thursday.
The renewed strikes came after the US partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq on Wednesday, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers. The attacks reignited the armed conflict between Iran and the US and dashed hopes that diplomacy could be given room to work.
Elsewhere, drone strikes caused fires on two natural gas vessels at Egypt’s gas import hub in the port of Damietta, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey. The Egyptian government confirmed that a drone attack started the fire, but it was not immediately clear who was responsible for the strikes on a US-owned floating storage facility and a Greek-owned tanker. No injuries were reported, and the port remained operational.
This was the first time Egypt had been attacked since the Iran war began in late February, signaling a potential widening of the conflict.
Asked during an Oval Office event if Iran was responsible for the strikes on the natural gas vessels, Trump responded: “It’s a little more of the same.”
“In the meantime, we’re going to be hitting them very hard because it’s our turn to hit them,” he added.
Analysts said the flare-ups on multiple fronts after several days of relative calm pushed the region into “uncharted territory.” They also highlighted the difficulty of winding down a five-month conflict that has shaken the global economy and remains unpopular among Americans.
The fighting is also likely to raise concerns that the US is further depleting its already reduced stockpiles of advanced munitions needed to defend its bases and allies.
Wednesday’s joint US-Saudi strikes on Iraq came after Riyadh accused Iraqi militias of firing drones at its oil facilities. An umbrella group of Iraqi militias initially denied the allegations.
The Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of mostly Shia Iranian-backed armed groups, has been a key player in the region.Armed groups that are officially under the command of the Iraqi military said at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded in the overnight strikes. Iran’s deputy governor for political, security, and social affairs in Markazi province told Iranian state media that four advisers from Tehran were also killed.
The coalition joined the fight against the Islamic State group after it seized large parts of Iraq in 2014. The Iraqi government later designated the coalition as an “independent military formation” within the armed forces, but the militias have significant autonomy, and some have attacked US facilities.
Before the latest escalation, mediators had expressed hope of bringing the US and Iran back to the negotiating table. An interim agreement fell apart in recent weeks due to renewed fighting in the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed hostilities caused oil prices to spike. Brent crude, the international benchmark, jumped 7.3% to over $88 a barrel.
Saudi Arabia is also locked in a renewed conflict with the Houthis. The Iran-backed militants have declared a blockade of Saudi shipping, which could cut off another key Middle East trade route—the Bab el-Mandeb strait from the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden.
On Wednesday, the Saudi defense minister, Khalid bin Salman, met with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, according to the Associated Press. The Saudi decision to conduct joint strikes with the US was meant to send a message to Iran that it was unhappy with attacks on its energy facilities, but the kingdom still preferred negotiations over a return to war, the AP reported.
On Monday, the Houthis said they had launched drones targeting oil facilities used to transport oil across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port city of Yanbu, a key bypass for Saudi exports blocked by Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. The rebels said the attack was in response to a Saudi drone they claimed had breached Yemen’s airspace.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about the reported US airstrikes on Iran and their impact on peace efforts written in a natural tone with clear simple answers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What exactly happened overnight
The United States military launched airstrikes against dozens of targets inside Iran The US says these were aimed at military facilities linked to Irans actions against US forces or allies
2 Why did the US strike Iran
The US government stated the strikes were in retaliation for recent attacks on American troops or interests in the region which they blamed on Iranbacked groups They described it as a defensive action to prevent future attacks
3 Does this mean the US and Iran are at war
Not necessarily While this is a serious escalation a fullscale war hasnt been declared However it dramatically raises tensions and makes it much harder to avoid a wider conflict
4 How does this affect peace efforts
This is a huge blow to peace efforts Direct military strikes make diplomatic negotiations much harder It destroys trust and gives both sides reasons to retaliate pushing a peaceful resolution further away
5 Is this legal under international law
This is highly debated The US claims it was an act of selfdefense Critics argue that without UN Security Council approval striking another sovereign nation without an immediate ongoing attack is a violation of international law
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 What kind of targets did the US hit
Reports indicate the strikes targeted facilities related to Irans ballistic missile program drone capabilities and commandandcontrol centers The US aimed to degrade Irans ability to launch or direct attacks against US assets
7 How did Iran respond to the strikes
Iran has condemned the attacks and vowed retaliation They have not yet launched a major military response but they have increased diplomatic pressure and there are fears of cyberattacks or attacks by proxy forces in the region
8 What does this mean for the nuclear deal negotiations
This effectively kills any nearterm hope of reviving the nuclear deal Iran will likely see the US as untrustworthy and the US will view Iran as a direct military threat making talks impossible for now
9 Who are the proxies we keep hearing about
These are armed groups in countries like Iraq Syria and Yemen that Iran supports with money
