By Ginika Igboke
The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified dramatically early Thursday as both nations launched new military attacks, raising fresh concerns that a fragile ceasefire could collapse and plunge the Middle East into a broader regional war.
American forces carried out another large wave of airstrikes against targets inside Iran, while Tehran retaliated by launching missiles and drones toward several U.S.-allied countries across the Gulf. The exchange marked one of the most significant escalations since the ceasefire was announced and cast new doubt over diplomatic efforts aimed at ending months of fighting.
The renewed hostilities unfolded as Iran completed days of national mourning for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the opening phase of the conflict earlier this year.
U.S. Airstrikes Target Dozens of Military Sites
The U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that American forces struck approximately 90 targets across Iran during the latest operation.
Military officials said the strikes focused on degrading Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes.
Video released by the U.S. military appeared to show precision strikes hitting airport runways, missile launchers, and other military infrastructure.
According to CENTCOM, the operation was designed to further reduce Iran’s capability to interfere with freedom of navigation through the strait, a waterway that previously carried roughly one-fifth of the world’s internationally traded oil and natural gas.
American officials have argued that repeated Iranian attacks on commercial shipping made additional military action necessary.
Iran Launches Missiles at U.S. Allies
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward several countries hosting American military installations.
Air raid sirens sounded multiple times throughout Bahrain, home to the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet, while additional missiles were reportedly fired toward Kuwait and Qatar.
Warning sirens also sounded in Jordan, where U.S. military personnel and aircraft are stationed.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) later claimed responsibility for missile strikes targeting a U.S. military base in Jordan.
Regional governments activated their air defense systems as incoming projectiles approached.
Kuwaiti officials reported intercepting:
- Three ballistic missiles
- One cruise missile
- Ten drones
Military authorities said debris from intercepted missiles injured one person.
Bahrain announced that its air defenses successfully intercepted incoming attacks, while Jordan confirmed that all projectiles entering its airspace had been destroyed before causing damage.
There were no immediate reports of significant damage in Qatar.
Explosions Reported Across Iran
As the military exchanges continued, Iranian state media reported explosions in several parts of the country.
Among the locations affected was Bushehr, home to Iran’s only operational nuclear power plant.
A local Iranian official accused the United States of conducting an airstrike near the facility later Thursday, several hours after CENTCOM announced the completion of its military operation.
American military officials did not specifically address the allegation regarding Bushehr and referred instead to their broader statement outlining the categories of military targets struck during the operation.
Additional explosions were reported in several southern cities and coastal regions.
Casualties Reported Following Latest Fighting
Iran’s Health Ministry said the latest two days of American airstrikes resulted in at least 14 deaths and 78 injuries.
Officials stated that most of those killed were members of Iran’s armed forces.
Independent verification of the casualty figures has not been immediately available.
Meanwhile, neighboring Gulf countries reported only limited injuries despite the large number of incoming missiles and drones intercepted by their air defense systems.
Strait of Hormuz Remains at Center of Conflict
The Strait of Hormuz continues to serve as the central flashpoint in the conflict.
Before fighting erupted earlier this year, the narrow waterway handled approximately 20% of globally traded oil and natural gas.
Commercial traffic had begun recovering after an interim ceasefire agreement partially reopened the shipping corridor.
According to maritime analytics firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, preliminary data showed that approximately 576 ships transited the Strait of Hormuz during June, compared with only 233 vessels in May, reflecting improving commercial activity following the temporary easing of hostilities.
By comparison, more than 3,100 ships used the passage during June of the previous year before the conflict disrupted normal shipping patterns.
Analysts warn that renewed military operations could once again threaten global energy supplies and increase shipping insurance costs.
Massive Funeral Held for Ayatollah Khamenei
Even as fighting intensified, Iran concluded the state funeral for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose death marked a pivotal moment in the conflict.
Early Friday, Khamenei was laid to rest in his hometown of Mashhad after nearly a week of nationwide mourning ceremonies.
Thousands of mourners filled major streets during the final funeral procession.
Crowds pressed toward the vehicle carrying Khamenei’s body, waving Iranian flags, carrying portraits of the late leader, and displaying banners honoring Shiite religious martyrs.
Some demonstrators also carried signs condemning President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Khamenei ruled Iran for nearly 37 years, overseeing major political, military, and religious developments while maintaining a confrontational stance toward the United States and its allies.
The funeral ceremonies, which began several days earlier, brought much of daily life in Tehran and other cities to a standstill as authorities closed roads and restricted airspace.
Trump Issues New Warning to Tehran
Following the latest military developments, President Trump issued another warning to Iran while returning from a NATO summit in Turkey.
Posting on social media, Trump shared videos that he said showed explosions inside Iran and stated that the latest U.S. strikes were retaliation for recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“This is in retribution for yesterday’s bombing of ships by Iran. If it happens again, it will get much worse!” Trump wrote.
The president also renewed previous warnings that additional Iranian attacks could prompt the United States to target civilian infrastructure, including electrical facilities, desalination plants, and Kharg Island, through which the majority of Iran’s oil exports are shipped.
Iran Responds With Defiant Messages
Iranian leaders responded with equally strong rhetoric.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf declared that the United States would face consequences for future military action.
“America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free,” Qalibaf wrote on social media. “If you strike, you’ll get hit.”
At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that he had held telephone discussions with senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Oman, and Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has served as one of the principal mediators throughout the conflict.
The diplomatic outreach suggested that regional governments continue seeking ways to prevent the fighting from expanding further.
Future Peace Talks Face Growing Uncertainty
The latest exchange of strikes has cast serious doubt over negotiations intended to transform the temporary ceasefire into a permanent peace agreement.
President Trump declared Wednesday that the interim ceasefire was effectively “over,” although he said diplomatic negotiations would still be allowed to continue.
Formal talks had been expected to resume following Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies.
Negotiators are expected to focus on several of the conflict’s most difficult issues, including permanently restoring unrestricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and addressing international concerns surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
With military operations intensifying once again and both sides exchanging increasingly forceful warnings, the prospects for a lasting agreement appear significantly more uncertain as the region braces for the possibility of further escalation.
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