The United States military has launched a new series of airstrikes targeting Iran, a move occurring just hours after President Donald Trump announced that the interim agreement aimed at ending the war with Tehran is “over.” The US Central Command confirmed that these operations are intended to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten freedom of navigation within the critical Strait of Hormuz. According to a post on X, the United States is holding Iran accountable for recent unjustified aggression directed at commercial shipping and civilian crews navigating the vital international waterway.
Reports from the region indicate that explosions were heard in various locations, including on Iran’s Abu Musa island and in the southern coastal cities of Sirik and Bandar Abbas. Iran’s Mehr reports that air defences are countering ‘hostile targets’ near Bandar Abbas, and the Islamic Republic News Agency reported that air defenses were activated to counter what they described as “hostile targets,” with power cuts affecting parts of the city of Chabahar. Meanwhile, in Bahrain, an AFP correspondent reported hearing explosions shortly after air raid sirens sounded in the capital, Manama. Kuwait’s military also confirmed that its air defense systems were intercepting hostile missile and drone attacks, though no specific origin for the threats was provided.
The escalation follows a vow from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to deliver a “devastating response” to American military actions. On Wednesday, Iran had launched retaliatory attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait following earlier US strikes. President Trump, speaking to reporters in Ankara after a NATO summit, characterized the strikes as retribution for Iranian attacks on ships. He warned that if further provocations occur, the situation would escalate, though he expressed a belief that a full-fledged conflict would not erupt. Trump previously stated on Truth Social that if attacks continue, “it will get much worse!”
Economic impacts were immediate, with US West Texas Intermediate crude futures rising $1.03, or 1.4%, to reach $74.55 a barrel in early Asian trading on Thursday. This follows gains for both WTI and Brent benchmarks in post-settlement trade on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Iraq has agreed to new controls to prevent US dollars from flowing to Iran and its militia allies, a measure tied to the Trump administration lifting a four-month suspension of American currency shipments to Baghdad.
In a separate development, Amnesty International has leveled accusations against Israel regarding its ongoing military campaign in Lebanon. The rights group alleged that Israel has been “wiping out families” during strikes between March 6 and 13, calling for these actions to be investigated as war crimes. According to Lebanese authorities, the conflict, which saw Hezbollah launch rockets at Israel on March 2, has resulted in over 4,300 deaths, including more than 250 children. Amnesty’s analysis of three specific strikes on civilian homes identified 24 civilian casualties, half of whom were children. Additionally, the head of the International Maritime Organization has urged that the 6,000 seafarers currently stranded in the Gulf must not be placed in unnecessary danger while transiting the Strait of Hormuz during the current hostilities.
Turkey stayed out of US-Israeli war on Iran 'at my request', Trump claims
