The United States has launched retaliatory airstrikes against Iran after two American service members were killed in an Iranian attack in Jordan, marking the first US military deaths since hostilities with Iran resumed.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) units believed to be responsible for the attack. The military said the operation was intended to “swiftly punish” those behind the assault.
Iran responded by claiming it had targeted two US military bases in Kuwait with drones, including an ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and radar and air surveillance systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base.
The renewed violence comes after a preliminary ceasefire agreement collapsed, with both countries continuing to clash over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping route.
CENTCOM confirmed that the deaths of the two service members in Jordan have raised the number of confirmed US military fatalities since the conflict began on February 28 to 16. Another American service member remains missing.
Iranian state media also reported fresh US strikes on the southern port city of Sirik, near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to teach the United States an “unforgettable lesson,” while senior military officials warned that further American attacks would trigger a “decisive and devastating response.”
The conflict has increasingly affected neighbouring countries. Kuwait accused Iran of targeting civilian infrastructure, while Jordan said it intercepted several Iranian missiles crossing its airspace.
Iran said recent US strikes have also hit power facilities and desalination plants in the south, disrupting electricity and drinking water supplies to several villages.
The fighting has further dimmed hopes of a negotiated settlement, despite continued diplomatic efforts by international mediators.
