Washington: The US military announced that it executed numerous strikes targeting assets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in retaliation for Iranian assaults on American forces stationed in Jordan. This military action follows President Donald Trump's commitment to respond forcefully to Iranian aggression.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement indicating that the strikes were directed at military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance and defense sites, and Iran's maritime capabilities. The operation, which lasted approximately two hours, aimed to mitigate threats from Iran and its proxies to American forces, commercial shipping, and neighboring Gulf nations.
The strikes were carried out after Iran admitted to launching ballistic missiles at US military bases in Jordan, a situation President Trump pledged to address despite ongoing efforts by Washington to pursue a peaceful resolution to the five-month-old conflict. The escalation follows the collapse of a June memorandum of understanding intended to pause hostilities for peace negotiations, raising concerns about the war's potential expansion in the Middle East.
Iranian attacks have also been reported in Egypt, while the US has targeted Iranian proxy groups in Iraq. Tehran's continued aggression towards commercial vessels in the strategic Strait of Hormuz has further fueled tensions.
Allison Minor, director of the Atlantic Council's Project for Middle East Integration, remarked on the challenging scenario the US faces amid escalating tensions. "The Iranian regime is making it clear that they will end this conflict on their own terms and that they're not afraid of continued confrontation with the US," she noted.
In recent developments, while Iranian missiles targeting Jordan were intercepted, Egypt confirmed that a drone attack had ignited a fire on a US-owned gas storage tanker in Damietta, marking the first attack inside Egypt since the conflict commenced in late February.
Additionally, Kuwait reported that an Iranian attack severely damaged a building owned by a Chinese company, resulting in one fatality and significant structural damage.
Pakistan, which played a role in mediating the now-defunct memorandum of understanding, stated that discussions continue between Washington and Tehran to resolve the conflict, though specific details remain undisclosed. "Negotiations between parties are ongoing, particularly on (the) Strait of Hormuz and to de-escalate," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Tahir Andrabi informed reporters.
President Trump, when questioned by Fox News on the potential for a peace deal with Tehran, stated, "we're going to let them keep talking," expressing optimism about the possibility of an agreement, but also acknowledging that military actions could resume if talks fail.