The United States and Iran exchanged fresh attacks on Thursday, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire could collapse as President Donald Trump warned Tehran to agree to a peace deal or face further military action.
The latest escalation marks the second straight day of hostilities between the two countries and comes after a U.S. Apache helicopter was shot down near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. That incident triggered a new round of military strikes across Iran and retaliatory attacks on U.S. military installations in the region.
Washington said its overnight operation targeted Iranian air defence systems, military communications facilities and surveillance infrastructure. The strikes, carried out shortly after midnight in Tehran, were described by the U.S. military as a response to what it called Iran’s continued aggression.
Trump signalled that the attacks could end if Iran accepts a peace agreement, but warned that the bombing campaign would resume if negotiations fail.
The renewed violence has dealt another blow to efforts to preserve a ceasefire announced in April, which had already been under strain despite ongoing diplomatic contacts aimed at ending the war that began in February.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it responded by targeting 18 U.S. military sites, including installations in Kuwait and Bahrain and the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet. It also claimed responsibility for another missile attack on the Al-Azraq air base in Jordan.
Authorities in Bahrain said debris from intercepted Iranian drones injured an 11-year-old girl and damaged homes and vehicles in Manama and nearby Hamad Town.
Kuwait temporarily closed its airspace after the attacks.
Meanwhile, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continued to grow. Iran’s military command warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the strategic waterway could come under attack. Iranian media claimed U.S. ships had been fired upon.
The U.S. military rejected those claims, insisting commercial shipping was still moving through the strait despite Iranian threats.
The dispute over Hormuz remains a major concern for global energy markets. The waterway handles a significant share of the world’s oil and gas shipments, and continued disruptions have pushed energy prices higher.
Reports from Iran described explosions in several cities, including Bandar Abbas, Minab, Sirik and Karaj, indicating the wide geographical reach of the latest strikes.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operation, saying military pressure was intended to strengthen Washington’s negotiating position.
Iran, however, accused the United States of striking civilian infrastructure, including reservoirs supplying drinking water to villages. Tehran described the attacks as a violation of international law and a deliberate assault on civilians.
The Pentagon has not publicly responded to those allegations.
The conflict, now in its fourth month, has claimed thousands of lives and disrupted global energy supplies. Rising fuel costs have become a growing political challenge for the White House, with recent polls showing declining public support for the war.
The fighting has also spilled beyond Iran. In neighbouring Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 13 people on Wednesday, according to Lebanese security sources, while Hezbollah reported launching new attacks against Israeli forces.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, key disagreements remain unresolved. Tehran continues to demand an end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and recognition of its control over the Strait of Hormuz.
The Trump administration insists any agreement must guarantee freedom of navigation through the strait and permanently prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons an accusation Tehran continues to deny.
