Adedokun Waliyu The United States has carried out a new round of airstrikes against Iran following the deaths of two American service members during Iranian missile and drone attacks in Jordan, marking a further escalation in the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
The US military said the strikes were aimed at “swiftly punishing” units of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which it accused of launching the attacks that killed the American troops. Another US service member remains missing.
The latest casualties bring the total number of confirmed US military deaths since the conflict began on February 28 to 16.
In response, Iran announced retaliatory attacks, claiming it had targeted two US military bases in Kuwait with drones. According to the Iranian military, the strikes hit an ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and Patriot radar and air surveillance systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
Iran also launched fresh attacks in Jordan, while the US confirmed it had conducted an eighth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iranian targets, including military units believed to have carried out the attack on American troops.
Iranian news agencies also reported US strikes on the southern Iranian port of Sirik, located along the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to teach the United States an “unforgettable lesson,” while senior military adviser Major General Mohsen Rezaei warned that Iran would resume full-scale offensive operations if American attacks continued.
Another senior Iranian commander, Ali Abdollahi, also warned that any further US aggression would be met with a decisive and devastating response.
The conflict has intensified around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Iran closed the waterway after the outbreak of hostilities, while the United States has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports, further heightening tensions.
Iran’s Health Ministry said at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 others injured since the latest round of fighting began.
The conflict has also affected neighbouring Gulf countries. Kuwait accused Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure, prompting residents to stockpile water and essential supplies over fears that the fighting could disrupt public services and supply chains.
Iran also claimed responsibility for attacks on a US military airbase in Bahrain and on the Al-Azraq US base in Jordan. The Jordanian military reported intercepting 10 Iranian missiles on Saturday, following several interceptions the previous day.
Efforts by international mediators to revive negotiations have so far failed, with a preliminary agreement aimed at ending the conflict collapsing amid continued fighting over control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that recent US strikes killed three people and injured eight in Hormozgan Province. Authorities also accused the United States of attacking power facilities and desalination plants in southern Iran, causing drinking water shortages in several communities.
The conflict continues to raise concerns over regional stability, global energy supplies, and the possibility of a broader military confrontation across the Middle East.
