U.S. And Iran exchange strikes in Hormuz
The U.S. Military struck targets in Iran on Tuesday, prompting retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Tehran.
The United States military conducted strikes against Iranian military targets on Tuesday. Iran responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones at sites across the region, including in Jordan.
U.S. Central Command stated the attacks targeted Iranian air defense sites, radar systems, and maritime assets. It said the action was a response to Iranian attempts to hit commercial ships and American forces in the Middle East. President Donald Trump warned that any Iranian retaliation would be met with harder strikes. He told reporters that U.S. Forces had struck Iran's radars.
Civilian Casualties Reported
Local officials in Iran reported significant civilian casualties from a U.S. Strike. Ahmad Nafisi, Hormozgan Province's deputy governor, told Iranian state television that a strike hit a home hosting a wedding in Kuhestak. He said the attack killed five people, including a child, and wounded at least 68 others.
Iranian state media also reported U.S. Strikes on a fishmeal factory, a fishing pier, a ports administration tower, and parts of the provincial power network. It said a projectile struck an area outside the civilian Jiroft Airport but caused no damage.
Captain Tim Hawkins, a U.S. Central Command spokesperson, said the military was aware of the casualty reports but noted they originated from Iranian state media. He stated that the U.S. Military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC. Ebrahim Azizi, chairperson of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, vowed the crimes would not go unpunished.
Regional Retaliation and Interceptions
Following the U.S. Attacks, Iran launched ballistic missiles at Jordan. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed it targeted a U.S. Base along Jordan's Gulf of Aqaba coast. Jordan's military said it shot down 10 of the missiles, with three landing in unpopulated areas.
Iran also said it launched drone attacks at U.S. Forces in Bahrain. Both Bahrain and Kuwait reported intercepting all incoming drone attacks. The Kuwaiti Army described the drones as part of the criminal Iranian aggression.
Iran's Armed Forces General Staff warned it would deliver crushing and devastating blows against the United States. Iranian state media cited the Revolutionary Guard as saying the attacks had strengthened Iran's resolve and tightened its effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Economic and Political Fallout
The renewed hostilities have sharply driven up global oil prices. Crude oil prices, already up about 7% this week, continued to rise after Tuesday's strikes. Prices have jumped more than 50% this year, pulling U.S. Gasoline costs upward.
According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. Reached $4.10. At the same time last year, the average price was $3.19.
The conflict poses political challenges. President Trump wrote on social media that he preferred the current situation to a negotiated agreement.
Ceasefire Deal in Tatters
Earlier on Tuesday, before the latest strikes, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to return to an interim ceasefire deal reached with the U.S. In June if Washington did the same. The deal had called for an immediate ceasefire and a 60-day negotiation period but crumbled soon after it was made.
The Tuesday strikes followed a similar U.S. Barrage on Sunday, which ended a month without military action. U.S. Central Command said Sunday's strikes hit Iranian rocket launchers meant to launch sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. Iran responded to those with missiles aimed at U.S. Sites in Jordan, which were intercepted. Explosions from air defense interceptions were seen over the city of Aqaba.
