US launches fresh strikes on Iran, as Trump warns of retaliation for deaths of soldiers

What the report says

BBC World News reports that the US military has carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran, saying the operation was intended to further reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said targets included Iranian command facilities, maritime assets, missile and drone launch sites, and air defence systems. The strikes followed President Donald Trump’s pledge to respond after the deaths of US soldiers in recent Iranian attacks.

Iran, citing state media, said it hit two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted US-linked military assets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. President Masoud Pezeshkian described the confrontation as a “full-scale war” with the United States. Iranian media reported explosions near Tabriz and at several Gulf and south-eastern ports, with at least one death and several injuries reported near Tabriz.

The situation has raised concern over shipping through one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker reported being struck by an unknown projectile in the strait, prompting the crew to abandon ship, though it was unclear if this was one of the vessels Iran claimed to have hit. Maritime intelligence firm Kpler recorded six fuel tanker and cargo ship crossings on Monday, down from eight the previous day.

BBC also reports that Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait said they intercepted or were targeted by Iranian drones or missiles, while Iran claimed an attack on Amazon-linked data infrastructure in Bahrain. Despite the escalation, Tehran said messages were still being exchanged through intermediaries. Trump said the US had no interest in talks unless Iran was ready to meet “in a meaningful way.”