U.S launches airstrikes on Iran as missile attacks threaten to expand Middle East conflict
The United States launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran on Sunday as Iranian missile launches toward Jordan raised concerns that the conflict could spread further into the region, potentially drawing neighboring Israel back into the fighting.
The U.S. military said the strikes targeted Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to an attack that killed American service members in Jordan. The latest exchange has intensified tensions between Washington and Tehran following the collapse of an interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict.
The military campaign, now in its second week, has centered around control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global energy supplies. U.S. forces have targeted infrastructure and military sites in Iran, while Tehran has carried out strikes against U.S. allies across the Middle East.
Kuwait, Jordan and Bahrain activated air defense systems Sunday after warning of incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Jordan later said it intercepted several missiles, while Israel warned that attacks near the Jordanian border could spill into its territory and trigger renewed air raid warnings.
The latest U.S. strikes hit Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime assets, and storage sites for missiles and drones, according to the military. The operation was intended to weaken Iran’s ability to control the Strait of Hormuz and strike against the Revolutionary Guard, which oversees much of the country’s missile program.
Video released after the operation appeared to show fighter jets and Tomahawk cruise missiles being used in the attacks. One reported target was located in a mountainous area where Iran has historically placed military equipment and missile facilities.
The strikes followed an Iranian attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that killed two American service members, left one missing and injured four others. Since the beginning of the conflict, 16 U.S. troops have been killed and more than 430 have been wounded.
Iranian officials said at least 50 people were killed and more than 500 others injured in the latest U.S. strikes. Tehran has not released an overall assessment of military losses from the ongoing campaign.
Iran’s atomic energy agency said a planned nuclear power plant construction site in southwestern Iran was also hit during the strikes. Officials said there was no known radioactive material at the location, where only limited construction activity had taken place.
Across the region, several U.S.-aligned countries reported attacks or activated air defenses. Jordan said the missile interceptions caused no casualties or damage, but officials warned the attacks risked expanding the conflict into Israel.
Kuwait reported that a power and water desalination facility was struck for the second time in two days, causing fires. The country relies heavily on desalination for its drinking water supply. Regional officials accused Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure, while international rules allow attacks on such sites only under limited circumstances involving military use and with efforts to reduce civilian harm.
The conflict continues to focus heavily on the Strait of Hormuz, where the U.S. has taken steps to restrict Iranian oil shipments and limit Tehran’s ability to control the key waterway. Recent American strikes have focused on areas near the strait, including military and infrastructure targets.
Iranian leaders have warned of retaliation if U.S. attacks continue, with officials saying Tehran will respond forcefully. Iran has also suspended commitments tied to the recently failed agreement that sought to permanently end the fighting.
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