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The United States launched another wave of airstrikes on Iran overnight, marking the 10th consecutive night of military action, as President Donald Trump vowed retaliation following the deaths of three American soldiers amid the rapidly escalating conflict.
The latest strikes targeted Iranian military command centres, missile and drone launch sites, maritime capabilities and air defence systems in an effort to further weaken Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday.
“The strikes were conducted to further degrade Iran’s capabilities to attack commercial and military vessels in the region,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
The renewed offensive followed Trump’s pledge to punish Iran after two US soldiers were killed in Jordan and another in Iraq. The president said Iran had been hit “very hard” during the previous night’s attacks in honour of the fallen troops.
Iran responded by claiming it had struck two oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz and targeted US military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that the country was now engaged in a “full-scale war” with the United States, signalling a dangerous new phase in the conflict.
Explosions were reported in several parts of Iran, including near the northwestern city of Tabriz, where state media said one person was killed and several others injured. Blasts were also reported around the Gulf ports of Bandar Mahshahr and Bandar Imam Khomeini, as well as the southeastern ports of Chabahar and Konarak.
Despite the attacks, CENTCOM maintained that commercial shipping continued through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Iran, however, said its forces had attacked two oil tankers attempting to navigate what it described as the strait’s “unsafe and hazardous southern route”, adding that rescue teams were evacuating their crews.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz had been struck by an unidentified projectile, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. It was not immediately clear whether the incident involved one of the tankers cited by Iranian authorities.
Preliminary data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler showed that six fuel tankers and cargo vessels crossed the Strait on Monday, down from eight two days earlier. Most ships used the northern route close to Iran’s coastline, reflecting heightened security concerns.
The conflict also spread across the Gulf as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it had destroyed an Amazon-operated data centre in Bahrain with cruise missiles.
Meanwhile, regional countries reported intercepting Iranian aerial threats. Jordan said it shot down five drones after intercepting three missiles late on Monday. Bahrain said Iranian drones had targeted its air navigation systems, though flight operations continued without disruption. Kuwait’s armed forces also reported intercepting Iranian drones.
The latest escalation has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict that could threaten global energy supplies and international shipping, with diplomatic efforts showing little sign of easing tensions.
