Iran Strikes on U.S. Bases Follow Second Day of American Attacks
The United States conducted strikes on military surveillance, communications and air defense sites in southern Iran on Thursday, prompting Iran strikes on U.S. bases in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain that caused minor injuries and property damage from intercepted debris.
Latest U.S. Strikes on Iran
US Central Command said it had completed a wave of self-defence strikes targeting military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites across southern Iran in response to what it called Tehran’s unwarranted and continued aggression. [4] The US said it launched dozens of Tomahawk cruise missiles at Iran on Thursday morning. [2] US President Donald Trump told Fox News reporter Trey Yingst on Wednesday evening that the US strikes would stop shortly but that he would resume heavy bombing if Iran’s leaders did not sign an agreement with the US immediately. [5] Trump wrote on Truth Social that Iranian leaders had taken too long to negotiate a deal and threatened further attacks if a deal was not reached. [4] US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran had been given a chance to make a deal but had not taken it and said bombs would be dropping on key facilities in the country. [4] Retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Blaine Holt told Newsmax on Thursday that the latest US strikes on Iran mark the beginning of the end for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. [3]
Iranian Retaliatory Attacks
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a punitive operation targeting US military sites in Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain in retaliation for the latest US strikes, firing 12 ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Airbase which were all intercepted. [2] Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had launched counter-attacks on 18 US military targets at airbases in Kuwait and Bahrain, as well as the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. [5] Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had fired ballistic missiles at a US command centre in Jordan and destroyed a large number of US fighter jets and facilities after firing 12 ballistic missiles at the Muwaffaq Salti Airbase. [4] Iran’s foreign ministry declared that the illegal and criminal attacks perpetrated by the United States in recent hours not only constitute a flagrant violation but also render the ceasefire practically meaningless. [2]
Iranian officials declare US-brokered Mideast truce practically meaningless after American strikes on southern Iran. — Source: bangkokpost
Damage and Interceptions in Gulf States
An 11-year-old girl sustained minor injuries after debris from intercepted Iranian drones fell in Bahrain, damaging some houses, Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said Thursday. [1] The girl received necessary treatment at the site, the ministry said on X, adding that the falling debris caused several vehicles to catch fire and damaged houses in Hamad Town and the capital, Manama. [1] Bahrain’s interior ministry said its air raid sirens were activated and that falling shrapnel from intercepted Iranian drones had damaged homes and vehicles in the capital, Manama, and Hamad Town. [4] Kuwait’s military said its air defences had engaged hostile aerial targets and Kuwait said it had temporarily closed its airspace due to the Iranian attacks before reopening it early on Thursday. [2] Jordan said it had shot down 20 Iranian missiles with no casualties or damage reported. [2] Jordanian state media reported 20 missiles had been intercepted and shot down by the country’s air defence systems and air force without any human casualties or material damage caused. [4]
Strait of Hormuz Disruptions
Iran has renewed its warnings over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil and gas transport which it has essentially closed. [2] Majid Mousavi, the head of the Iranian Guards’ aerospace force, said in a social media post: Are you making the sacred Strait of Hormuz unsafe? We will make the region hell for you. [2] The Iranian navy said it had hit two ships trying to sail through the strait. [2] Iran’s top joint military command warned it would fire on any vessel trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. [5] CENTCOM denied that the strait was closed, saying commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out of the Strait of Hormuz tonight. [2] Oil prices rose shortly after the closure of the shipping channel and the apparent attack on the ships was announced, with Brent crude oil climbing to around $95 a barrel after rising by about 2%. [4]
Ceasefire Collapse and Diplomatic Reactions
Iran’s foreign ministry said early on Thursday that the overnight attacks violated the two-month-old ceasefire, rendering it practically meaningless. [4] UN Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement on X that the Middle East was being pulled deeper into crisis and that recent attacks meant the ceasefire is more like a lesser-fire. [4] Mediators Pakistan and Qatar suggested backchannel efforts to negotiate an end to the war were ongoing in spite of the flare-up, though Islamabad cautioned it was hard to be an optimist in light of the latest escalation. [2] Saudi Arabia called on Thursday for more talks under Pakistani and Qatari mediation. [2] China called for more negotiations on Thursday, with a foreign ministry spokesperson urging the warring parties to immediately cease military operations, respond to the mediation efforts of relevant countries, and achieve a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire. [2]
Ongoing Negotiations Amid Conflict
Three Iranian sources and a European official said the US and Iran were exchanging messages on details of a memorandum after reaching a political understanding, but some issues still had to be discussed in detail, including a mechanism for the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian funds. [5] One of the Iranian sources said: This war, from a military standpoint, is a dead end. The Americans could not achieve their goals by attacking Iran. There has been progress in negotiations. [5] Iran wants $6 billion to $12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release funds in stages for humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright, one Iranian source told Reuters. [5] Trump has repeatedly said a deal is close. [5]
What to watch next: Mediators Pakistan and Qatar are continuing backchannel talks while Iranian sources report progress toward a memorandum on frozen funds and Saudi Arabia and China call for renewed negotiations to achieve a comprehensive ceasefire.
