US launches new strikes in Iran after Trump warning

The United States military announced "powerful" new strikes on Iranian soil Wednesday evening, characterizing them as a direct response to what it described as "aborted Iranian attacks" against American forces in the Middle East. The announcement came hours after former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning that the U.S. would retaliate forcefully against Iran.

Iranian state media outlets reported Thursday that the strikes had hit targets on Qeshm Island and in the city of Abadan in the country's south. According to the official IRNA news agency, citing a local official, rescue teams were dispatched to Qeshm Island to search for two individuals reportedly trapped under the rubble of a destroyed house.

The U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated on X that the strikes, launched at 8:00 PM Washington time, were a "powerful response" to Iranian actions the previous day. U.S. forces had reported intercepting missiles originating from Iran that were aimed at their bases in the region. Iranian television had subsequently reported American strikes in the northwestern part of the country.

Trump's strong rhetoric preceded the U.S. military's announcement. He was quoted by Fox News as saying, "We are going to hit them hard, they are going to get clobbered." Later, speaking to reporters at the White House, he reiterated, "We are going to hit them very hard, because it is our turn."

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These strikes, launched at 20h00 heure de Washington (00h00 GMT jeudi), «constituent une réponse puissante aux attaques iraniennes avortées d’hier contre les forces américaines basées au Moyen-Orient».