The United States launched a fresh round of military strikes against targets in Iran on Wednesday, intensifying a five month old conflict that has increasingly spread beyond its original fronts to involve more countries across the Middle East.
In a statement, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces began the latest operation at 8:00 p.m. ET (0000 GMT), describing the attacks as a response to Iran’s missile strikes against U.S. forces stationed in the region a day earlier.
“The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday’s attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East,” CENTCOM said.
The renewed U.S. offensive followed a day of escalating regional violence. Earlier on Wednesday, a drone struck a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey, while U.S. and Saudi forces carried out coordinated strikes against Iran aligned armed groups in eastern Iraq. Iran also launched ballistic missiles targeting U.S. forces in Jordan.
Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry confirmed that a fire broke out at the Damietta port but did not attribute the incident to a drone strike. Responsibility for the attack has not been officially established.
The latest military actions have heightened concerns that additional Middle Eastern countries could become directly involved in the conflict, particularly after Yemen’s Houthi movement announced a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia last week.
President Donald Trump earlier vowed to retaliate against Iran’s attacks on U.S. personnel, telling reporters at the White House that Washington would “hit them very hard” while maintaining that his administration remained open to a negotiated settlement with Tehran.
Iran confirmed it had launched missile attacks against U.S. military installations in Jordan and targeted vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while rejecting an Omani proposal for joint management of the strategic waterway.
The conflict began in February, when the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. A temporary ceasefire brokered in June later collapsed amid renewed fighting centred on the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one fifth of global oil shipments pass.
Global energy markets reacted sharply to the renewed escalation. Brent crude surged more than 8%, climbing above $90 per barrel, reversing losses recorded earlier in the week after Trump unexpectedly paused U.S. strikes.
The joint U.S. Saudi operation in Iraq marked the first publicly acknowledged coordinated military action between Washington and Riyadh during the conflict.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a coalition of predominantly Shiite armed groups aligned with Iran, said at least 20 fighters were killed and 32 wounded in strikes targeting several bases across Iraq.
The United States and Saudi Arabia said the attacks were conducted in retaliation for multiple drone strikes launched from Iraq against Saudi oil infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said it did not seek further escalation but would respond to attacks threatening the kingdom’s security.
The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi urged all parties to avoid further escalation, while Iraq’s presidency condemned the strikes as a violation of the country’s sovereignty.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials have privately acknowledged growing concerns about dwindling stocks of advanced air defence munitions. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the United States has fewer than 1,000 Patriot interceptor missiles and fewer than 250 THAAD interceptors remaining in operational inventories.
Despite Iran’s denial that it directed attacks from Iraqi territory, Iranian media reported that four members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed during the strikes on Iraq.
The latest exchanges underscore the increasing risk that the conflict could widen further despite continued diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing a broader regional war.
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