The US has launched fresh strikes on Iran tonight in response to Tehran's attack on American forces in the Middle East.
The latest barrage came after the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Iran-backed militias in neighboring Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers.
Iran’s Islamic Guards unleashed a surprise volley of ballistic missiles at US bases in the Gulf on Tuesday. American missiles, drones and fighter jets have zeroed in on key Iranian port cities in the second phase of the war as they attempt to claw back control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Escalation risks full-blown war
Renewed violence from both sides now risks a return to full-blown war.
Announcing the onslaught on X, US Central Command wrote on Wednesday night: “US forces began launching strikes against Iran at 8pm ET today. The strikes are a powerful response to yesterday's attempted Iranian attacks on U.S. forces based in the Middle East.”
Before the latest eruption, mediators had expressed optimism about bringing the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table. An interim agreement collapsed in recent weeks over renewed fighting in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies that Iranian attacks have again effectively closed.
Mediation efforts falter
A regional official said mediators are “still trying with both sides” to restore calm and get the ceasefire back on track. He gave no details on whether progress was being made and spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door diplomacy.
Regional countries will continue to push to de-escalate the situation, said an Arab official, adding that prospects for successful mediation were slim as both sides continue to launch attacks on the other and have shown no inclination to stop. “We're in a very bad place right now,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe an internal assessment of the situation.
The five-month conflict jolted the world economy and is unpopular among Americans. The fighting was also likely to add to concerns that the U.S. is further drawing down already diminished stockpiles of sophisticated munitions needed to defend its bases and allies.
