US launches new round of airstrikes against Iran after two soldiers killed
US President Donald Trump ordered fresh airstrikes on Iranian military targets in response to an Iranian attack in Jordan that killed two American service members. Iran retaliated by striking Kuwait, hitting desalination plants and oil infrastructure.
The US military launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran on Saturday evening local time, aiming to "swiftly punish" Iran's Revolutionary Guard for an attack in Jordan that killed two American troops, left one missing, and injured four. Trump, in a brief call with NewsNation, described the deaths as a "shame" and reiterated that the war on Iran was launched to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
US Central Command stated that the strikes began at 6pm ET (10pm GMT) on Saturday at Trump's direction, targeting "Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites." Areas near Sirik and Hajiabad in Hormozgan province, as well as Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, were hit. This marks the eighth consecutive night of US strikes against Iran.
Iran responded by attacking Kuwait, hitting a water desalination plant and an oil facility, according to Kuwaiti authorities. The Kuwaiti army said it was dealing with hostile missile and drone attacks and that explosions were likely from air defense systems intercepting incoming threats. Iran's army earlier stated it targeted two US bases in Kuwait: an ammunition depot at Camp Buehring and radar systems at Ali Al Salem air base.
Since the war began, Iran's health ministry reports 50 people killed and over 500 injured from US strikes. US casualties include 16 service members killed and over 430 wounded. The escalation follows the collapse of a ceasefire memorandum signed in June, which Trump declared "over" earlier this month.
