U.S. and Iranian forces executed reciprocal missile strikes overnight, raising fears of an imminent all-out war following weeks of fluctuating ceasefire agreements.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly pledged to maintain military pressure on Iran during a Fox News interview, stating that “if we need to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs” as Tehran’s response time frustrated Washington’s objectives.
Central Command confirmed strikes targeting locations near Hormuz Gulf early Thursday morning, with reports of explosions in Bandar Abbas and Minab. The attacks aimed to compel Iran toward negotiations after the recent helicopter incident that killed an American serviceman.
Iran retaliated with reported attacks on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, though immediate verification is pending. The meeting of the Gulf’s critical shipping route, Hormuz, was temporarily shut down according to Iranian sources, though the U.S. denied these claims.
Kuwait’s defense forces reported intercepting hostile projectiles, triggering temporary airspace closures and activation of emergency sirens in Bahrain. This marks the most severe escalation since the February conflict began with U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting Iranian positions.
Intelligence officials suggest the latest round of violence could undermine the fragile ceasefire that had allowed sporadic but controlled military exchanges. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated Wednesday that the ceasefire was “more like a lesser-fire” amid recent provocations.