US forces launch a five-hour wave of strikes across southern Iran, while Kuwait intercepts suspected Iranian aerial targets and Tehran warns that oil exports will remain under threat. The military confrontation between the United States and Iran intensified overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, as President Donald Trump declared that American attacks would continue and Iranian forces claimed to have targeted US positions in Jordan.
US Central Command launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military infrastructure at approximately 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, according to reports. The operation was aimed at further weakening Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes came as American forces prepared to renew a maritime blockade targeting Iranian ports and coastal areas. The blockade was reportedly scheduled to take effect at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. CENTCOM later said the American attack lasted approximately five hours. Iranian locations reportedly targeted included Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, Abu Musa and Bandar Abbas. “These strikes will continue to inflict heavy losses on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” the US military said as the operation began.
Trump: “The strikes will continue”
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Iranian energy sites were being reserved for a later stage of the campaign. “The strikes will continue until I say it is enough,” Trump said, adding that Iran still had “a little fight left,” but “not much.” The president also said American representatives had communicated with Iranian officials during the previous 24 hours, despite the continuing military escalation. Trump had earlier warned that the United States would strike Iran “very hard” during the night and again the following day.
Kuwait intercepts suspected Iranian targets
Kuwait’s military announced that it had intercepted suspected aerial targets sent from Iran after they entered Kuwaiti airspace. Kuwait’s state news agency also reported that firefighters had brought a blaze under control at a site targeted in what officials described as an Iranian attack. Six firefighting teams responded with support from the Kuwaiti military and National Guard. No casualties were reported, and officials said the damage was limited to property. Reports also emerged of Iranian missiles equipped with separating or multiple warheads being launched toward Bahrain. Footage circulating on Arab social media appeared to show such a projectile over Bahraini airspace, although the precise nature of the weapon could not be independently verified. Air-raid sirens were activated in Bahrain during the Iranian attacks. (Read more)
