US Launches Second Day of Airstrikes Across Iranian Cities
The United States launched a second round of Iran strikes on multiple targets in Iran overnight into Thursday morning, with Iran responding by firing missiles at Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. [1] The new US assault across multiple Iranian cities came as efforts to negotiate an end to the war again appeared stuck. [1]
US Launches Second Round of Strikes on Iran
US Central Command stated the strikes targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites, carried out by the US Air Force, Marines and Navy. [1] The military command said the strikes came in response to Iran's unwarranted and continued aggression. [1] Explosions from the strikes echoed around Iran's capital, Tehran, as well as the port city of Bandar Abbas and other southern areas along the Strait of Hormuz. [1] Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard later said sites hit by the Americans included a manufacturing complex, a military barracks and a local Guard base outside of Tehran. [1] The US Central Command said its latest round of airstrikes ended just before sunrise Thursday in Iran. [1] In the latest strikes, US fighter jets targeted air defence, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites, the military’s Central Command said. [2] Iran acknowledged strikes around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island, but gave no details on damage. [2]
Iranian Missile Attacks on Gulf States and Jordan
Iranian missiles targeted an area in Jordan home to an air base hosting US troops; Jordan intercepted 20 missiles with no injuries reported. [1] Jordan said it intercepted 20 Iranian missiles fired toward an area that is home to an air base hosting US troops, though no one was hurt. [1] Jordan said it shot down five incoming missiles, which Iran said targeted the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. [2] The base has hosted American F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft. [2] Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency reported there were no injuries. [2] In Bahrain, an 11-year-old girl was injured and cars and homes damaged by falling debris from interceptions; Kuwait closed its airspace temporarily. [1] In Bahrain, the Interior Ministry said an 11-year-old girl had been hurt and cars and homes were damaged by falling debris from interceptions responding to the Iranian attack. [1] Kuwait closed its airspace for several hours because of the Thursday morning attack, but did not elaborate on any damage. [1] Bahrain and Kuwait said they intercepted incoming fire, without elaborating. [2]
Context of Stalled Peace Negotiations
The strikes follow a US Army helicopter crash near the Strait of Hormuz that President Trump blamed on Iran, and come amid stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and its disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] The exchanges of fire came a day after a US Army attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with an Iranian drone, according to a US official. [2] Trump has urged Iran to sign a deal to end the war and suggested earlier this week that an agreement could be reached in days. [1] Mr Trump would not say if he planned to follow through on threats he made earlier in the war to attack bridges and utility plants in Iran. [2] He urged Iran to sign a deal with the US. [2] We were really close to a deal but they keep tapping us along, Mr Trump said. [2] The US wants to see Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. [1] Iran is refusing to give up the uranium and demanding relief from sanctions. [1] It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something Trump rejected. [1] Iran has insisted that any deal to end the war must also end fighting between its ally Hezbollah and Israel. [1]
Impact on Global Energy Markets and Shipping
Oil prices rose above $93 per barrel, up more than 25% since the start of the war on February 28, as Iran maintains pressure on the Strait of Hormuz. [1] The international benchmark for crude oil traded above USD 93 a barrel on Wednesday, up more than 25 per cent since the start of the war. [1] The international benchmark for crude oil traded above 92 dollars a barrel on Wednesday, up more than 25% since the start of the war. [2] Trump said the US military has since last month undertaken a secret mission to sneak oil shipments past Iran's forces in the Strait of Hormuz. [1] He said ships were slipping through at night, aided by the destruction of Iranian radar equipment. [1] Trump said as a result more than 100 million barrels of oil have evaded Iran's chokehold on the strait. [1] The US Central Command on Wednesday disputed Iran's claims that the Strait of Hormuz is closed, saying commercial ships are continuing to transit in and out. [1] The US Navy targeted the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello on Tuesday. [1] The US military's Central Command had accused the Settebello of having violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran. [1] American forces fired into the ship's engine room to stop it Wednesday. [1] Since the start of the Iran war, there have been 43 attacks on international shipping in the area, the IMO said. [1]
Regional Involvement and Israeli Actions
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also appears intent on pursuing goals that make compromise harder: the collapse of Iran's theocratic government, the elimination of its nuclear program, and the destruction of the Iranian-allied Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. [1] Mr Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel would continue to act forcefully against Iran and its proxies that threaten the Middle East and the entire world. [2] Israel’s military said it launched multiple strikes in southern Lebanon over the past day, targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. [2] An airstrike on a village east of Tyre killed at least six people, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported. [2] It said two others were killed by an Israeli drone strike on a car in the southern city of Sidon. [2] An Israeli military official said on Wednesday that an airbase in northern Israel was hit on Sunday by an Iranian missile during an exchange of fire. [2]
Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts
A Qatari diplomatic delegation held talks in Tehran on Wednesday as part of mediation efforts coordinated with the US. [1] Following consultations with the US, a delegation from Qatar arrived in Tehran for talks on Wednesday, according to an official with knowledge of the visit who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks. [2] A Qatari diplomatic delegation, negotiating in coordination with the US, left Tehran on Thursday morning after holding talks, said an official with knowledge of the team who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the mediation. [1] Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in televised comments on Wednesday that, following the new attacks, Iran would review its stance on negotiations to end the war. [2]
What to watch next: Efforts to mediate a deal continued with the Qatari delegation, and Iran’s top diplomat vowed that there would be a response while emphasizing the inherent right of self-defence. [2]
