US Launches New Iran Strikes After Two Soldiers Killed

The United States conducted new strikes against Iran on Saturday night, following the deaths of two American soldiers in an Iranian attack in Jordan. This marked the eighth consecutive night of US military action, intensifying a conflict that has eroded fragile ceasefire negotiations.

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The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces hit Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. These strikes were aimed at degrading Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to punish the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces responsible for the attack in Jordan.

Reporting from Tehran, Al Jazeera's Resul Serdar Atas described the US attacks as an effort to "isolate" southern Iran. He noted that civilian infrastructure, including bridges, railways, tunnels, airports, and roads, had been hit. This destruction is significantly limiting the movement of people and goods, leading to hospital evacuations and postponed school exams.

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The US attacks are aimed at “isolating” southern Iran from the rest of the country. Several bridges have been hit, in addition to railways, tunnels, airports and roads … The destruction of civilian infrastructure is significantly limiting the movement of people, goods and logistical supplies.

Atas added that while the US aims to degrade the IRGC's capacity, the affected infrastructure is also used by civilians. The IRGC maintains its stance on controlling the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting the US focus on these provinces along the waterway is an attempt to challenge that control. Meanwhile, reports of explosions were heard in southern Iranian cities like Kish Island and Sirik, a strategically important location overlooking the Strait of Hormuz.

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The US is trying to degrade the IRGC’s capacity, but these infrastructures are also used by civilians. Americans are trying to isolate the south of the country from the rest of Iran. On the other hand, the IRGC says it will not give up the Strait of Hormuz.