US and Iran exchange strikes after two US deaths in Jordan attack
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- The US launched new airstrikes against Iran on Saturday night, targeting coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, marking the eighth successive night of attacks.
- US Central Command stated the strikes aimed to degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping and to punish the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) for an attack that killed two US troops in Jordan.
- Iran's state media reported strikes on Qeshm Island, while the IRGC claimed drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait in response.
The United States conducted another round of airstrikes against Iran on Saturday night, hitting coastal surveillance and air defense facilities. This marks the eighth consecutive night of US military action against Iranian targets.
The US armed forces successfully hit Iranian military capabilities.
US Central Command (Centcom) confirmed that forces successfully struck Iranian military capabilities. The strikes were designed "to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz" and to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night," according to a Centcom statement.
Iranian state media reported that Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz had been struck. In response to the latest US strikes, Iran's army stated it carried out drone attacks on two US bases in Kuwait, according to state media.
These strikes are designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The renewed hostilities follow a week where Washington reimposed its blockade of Iranian ports, and Tehran declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, as their preliminary ceasefire collapsed less than a month after its inception. Two US service members were killed in action in Jordan on Friday when US and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. An additional service member remains missing.
The strikes were to swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.
The US death toll in the conflict has now risen to 16. This increase follows the declaration of death for an American Navy pilot who had been missing earlier in the month. The preliminary deal to end the war, struck in June between Washington and Tehran, unraveled within weeks, with President Donald Trump declaring the agreement "over" on July 8.
Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by BBC News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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