The United States launched airstrikes against Iranian military targets on Sunday, targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in retaliation for an attack in Jordan that killed two American service members and left one missing. The strikes, part of an eighth consecutive night of US military operations, were directed at Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The IRGC claimed responsibility for the attack in Jordan, which also injured four other US service members. In response, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused the US of violating the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, a fragile truce that has now collapsed. Iran also reported strikes on US bases in Kuwait, including Camp Buehring and Ali Al Salem Air Base, as retaliation for the US airstrikes.
The escalation follows a week of intensified hostilities, with both sides targeting critical infrastructure. The US has struck bridges, electrical facilities, and other targets in Iran, while Iran has retaliated by hitting power and desalination plants in Kuwait. The conflict has raised concerns over oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global energy trade.
US President Donald Trump ordered the strikes, stating they were designed to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and punish the IRGC for its attacks on American forces. The US military has deployed over 50,000 soldiers across the Middle East, describing them as 'highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.'
The latest US fatalities bring the total number of American service members killed in the conflict to 16, with over 420 wounded. The war, which began on February 28, has seen both sides engage in drone, missile, and air strikes, with no large-scale ground combat reported.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei condemned the US actions, stating that repeated breaches of the interim deal had shown Trump’s signature was 'utterly worthless and devoid of credibility.' The conflict has drawn warnings from the United Arab Emirates, which expressed concerns over further escalation.