US and Iran exchange more airstrikes, fuelling fears of wider return to hostilities

Attacks on Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and reprisals against US bases in Middle East quash hopes that flare-up last weekend was limited in natureThe US has launched new airstrikes on Iranian targets, prompting counter strikes by Tehran targeting American interests in Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Iraq, and fuelling concerns about a ⁠wider renewal of hostilities. The US Marine Corps base Camp Titin in Jordan was targeted for an “intense ballistic missile attack”, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) s

Full BriefGenerated 15d ago

What Happened

On Tuesday at 12 p.m. ET (1600 GMT), United States Central Command initiated airstrikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets within Iran, specifically impacting Qeshm Island, Bandar Abbas, and Chabahar, according to reports from Iranian state media and Nour News. These strikes follow a series of escalations, including US strikes on Larak Island on Sunday and subsequent Iranian missile attacks on two US airbases in Jordan. The current hostilities occur amid an ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has reportedly targeted commercial shipping, prompting threats of further sanctions from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and warnings of military retaliation from President Donald Trump.

Key Actors

·
US Central Command(US military combatant command)Confirmed the initiation of strikes against IRGC targets in response to threats against commercial shipping and US service members.
·
IRGC(Iranian military branch)Stated through a spokesperson that the US will regret the new attacks and threatened to prevent oil exports from the Persian Gulf.
·
Masoud Pezeshkian(President of Iran)Conditioned Iranian reciprocation on the US returning to commitments under a June memorandum of understanding.
·
Donald Trump(President of the United States)Threatened that any further Iranian retaliation would result in a significantly harder military response.

Why It Matters

The collapse of the June memorandum of understanding and the subsequent return to direct military exchanges between the US and Iran threaten the stability of global oil supplies, given Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation marks a transition from an economic standoff back to active kinetic conflict, increasing the risk of a wider regional war involving critical infrastructure and military assets.

Watch For

Monitor for potential Iranian retaliation against US assets in the region, further announcements regarding US sanctions from the Treasury Department, and any developments regarding the status of oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

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This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from The Guardian Middle East. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.

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Latest verified updates on Iran’s regional confrontation, U.S.–Israeli strikes, missile retaliation, proxy networks, sanctions, and Strait of Hormuz risks.

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