Donald Trump has ordered the US military to launch new strikes against Iranian targets, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed on Wednesday. The directive was issued shortly after Trump threatened to "hit Iran hard" during a NATO summit held earlier in the day.
New Attacks Authorized by CENTCOM
According to a brief statement from CENTCOM, the attacks are aimed at specific Iranian military assets. The command did not disclose the exact locations or the scale of the operations, but officials indicated that the strikes are intended to degrade Iran's ability to threaten US interests in the region.
Trump's NATO Summit Remarks
Trump's threat came in response to questions about his commitment to defending NATO allies. During a press conference at the summit, he stated, "We will hit Iran hard if they do anything to threaten us or our allies." The remark drew mixed reactions from other NATO leaders, with some expressing concern over the escalation of tensions.
Impact and Reactions
The strikes mark a significant escalation in US-Iran relations, which have been tense since Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal in his previous term. Iranian officials have not yet commented on the latest attacks. The Pentagon has placed additional forces on standby in the region, raising fears of a broader conflict.
