US launches new Iran strikes after two soldiers killed: What’s the latest?

The United States conducted military strikes against Iranian targets in response to Iranian attacks that resulted in the deaths of two American service members stationed in Jordan. US Central Command reported that operations targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps military installations, including coastal surveillance facilities, air defence systems, maritime capabilities, and storage sites for missiles and drones.

The strikes represent an escalation in the renewed conflict between the two nations, occurring on the eighth consecutive night of US military operations against Iran. According to Central Command, the operations aimed to degrade Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and to respond to the attacks against American personnel.

Reporting from Tehran indicated that US strikes have damaged significant civilian infrastructure in southern Iran, including bridges, railways, tunnels, airports, and roads. The destruction has severely restricted movement of people, goods, and logistical supplies, with hospitals evacuating patients and schools postponing examinations. Analysts noted that while the strikes target IRGC capabilities, the affected infrastructure serves civilian populations, effectively isolating southern Iran from the remainder of the country.

Iranian media reported multiple explosions in strategically significant locations, including the port city of Bandar Abbas and nearby Qeshm Island, which overlooks the Strait of Hormuz. Additional reports indicated strikes near the city of Sirik and in Khuzestan province. The targeting of these southern provinces reflects US efforts to constrain IRGC control over the critical waterway, while the IRGC has indicated its determination to maintain influence over the Strait of Hormuz.