US Conducts Strikes Against Iran in Retaliation for Military Casualties, Escalating Regional Conflict

Tehran (AFP) – The United States conducted airstrikes on Sunday, stating the operation aimed to “punish” Iran following the first U.S. military deaths since renewed hostilities began between the two nations.

Iran quickly retaliated, announcing it had targeted two U.S. bases in Kuwait with drones, striking an ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and Patriot radar systems at Ali Al Salem Air Base. Kuwait’s military confirmed responding to additional Iranian drone and missile attacks, while air raid sirens activated in Bahrain.

Tehran also launched new strikes in Jordan, where the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) reported two service members killed Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. A third service member remains missing. These deaths bring the total confirmed U.S. military fatalities to 16 since the conflict began on February 28.

The U.S. military reported an eighth consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian forces responsible for the Jordan attacks, as well as locations in Sirik, a port on the Strait of Hormuz. The renewed violence stems from Iranian attacks on vessels in the strategically vital waterway, which controls a significant portion of global oil shipments.

The collapse of a preliminary ceasefire deal has intensified the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran closed the waterway after hostilities resumed, while the U.S. reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Tehran’s health ministry reported 50 deaths and over 500 injuries from the renewed fighting.

Iranian officials issued strong warnings in response to U.S. actions. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei pledged to deliver an “unforgettable lesson” to the United States, and senior military leaders threatened full-scale retaliation if strikes continued. The U.S. under President Donald Trump has hinted at targeting Iranian infrastructure but has not confirmed such operations publicly.

Iranian state media reported that U.S. attacks killed three people and wounded eight in Hormozgan province, while eight additional deaths occurred in Khuzestan over 10 days. Authorities also accused the U.S. of striking power facilities and desalination plants in the village of Bonji, cutting water supplies to southern villages.

Iranian forces targeted an air base used by U.S. personnel in Bahrain and struck fuel tanks at the Al-Azraq U.S. base in Jordan, according to state media. Mediators have struggled to revive negotiations as both sides escalate attacks on military and civilian infrastructure. Residents in Kuwait expressed concerns over potential disruptions to essential services amid fears the conflict could prolong.

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