In brief
The U.S. military has begun striking Iranian targets following an attempted surprise assault on American forces in Jordan and the Strait of Hormuz. Central Command described the attacks as a powerful retaliation to Iran's recent drone and missile strikes on U.S. bases and oil tankers. Earlier this month the U.S. and Saudi Arabia launched joint strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, marking a dramatic escalation in an already drawn-out conflict. Diplomats have warned of further fallout, while both sides promised to halt hostilities in hopes of diplomatic solutions.
The US military announced it has begun launching strikes against Iran in retaliation for a surprise attack on American forces in the Middle East.
Central Command described the strikes as "a powerful response" to Iran's firing on US bases in Jordan and ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The latest hostilities followed a day that saw the first publicly announced joint US–Saudi strikes, targeting Iranian proxies in Iraq.
When the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in February, former President Trump had said the war would last only a few weeks; it has now stretched to five months with no end in sight.
Reports indicate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted a US air base and a command centre in Jordan as retaliation for American actions, and struck three oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz after they ignored warnings.
The US suspended an intensive bombing campaign last Friday after 13 consecutive nights, claiming to have targeted Iranian weapons and military sites. Reported casualties were high.
On Tuesday, joint US–Saudi strikes hit multiple terrorist logistics and weapons sites across eastern Iraq in response to over 30 drone attacks in the last 72 hours, killing at least 20 members of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces.
The Iraqi presidency condemned the bombing as a violation of its sovereignty, yet President Trump insisted the strikes were coordinated with the Iraqi government.
The long-standing rivalry between Saudi Arabia, the leading Sunni power, and Iran, the largest Shia country, continues to shape regional dynamics.
