US military launches new airstrikes to punish Iran for deaths of US troops

The U.S. military launched fresh airstrikes against Iran on Sunday, marking the eighth consecutive night of operations and targeting Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. The strikes, described as a measure to "swiftly punish" Iran’s Revolutionary Guard for an attack in Jordan that killed two American service members, aimed to degrade Tehran’s ability to restrict oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The operation followed a drone and missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan on Friday, which the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) attributed to Iran. This was the first reported U.S. troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the war began in February 2026, when U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes that prompted Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. Since then, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and over 430 wounded, according to CENTCOM.

The latest airstrikes targeted areas in southern Iran, including Sirik, Hajiabad, and Qeshm Island, all within Hormozgan province. Iranian state media reported that U.S. strikes damaged a desalination plant, tunnels, and bridges, disrupting a major highway leading to Bandar Abbas, a key port near the strait’s narrowest point. The U.S. stated the attacks aimed to degrade Iran’s capacity to restrict oil tanker traffic and retaliate for the Jordan incident. CENTCOM emphasized the strikes were part of an "eight consecutive night" of operations, with targets including surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, and maritime capabilities. Iranian state TV reported that U.S. airstrikes hit an electricity and desalination plant in Hormozgan, destroying the Bonji desalination plant and damaging one on Qeshm Island, cutting off water supplies to about 10,000 people. Overnight strikes also damaged two tunnels and a bridge, disrupting a main highway toward Bandar Abbas.

Iran responded with its own attacks, reportedly striking a water desalination plant and an oil facility in Kuwait, as well as targeting U.S. allies in the region. Kuwait’s authorities confirmed the damage, while Jordan’s air defense systems intercepted Iranian missiles. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) accused Iran of war crimes for attacking civilian infrastructure, and the U.S. issued a global travel alert amid rising tensions. Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned of "unforgettable lessons" for the U.S., calling President Donald Trump’s leadership "worthless and invalid." Tehran also suspended its commitments to an interim peace deal signed a month prior, signaling a hardening stance. The Iranian military threatened a "devastating response" to U.S. actions, while its joint command accused the U.S. of "covetousness, bullying, and brutality."

The conflict has increasingly threatened civilian populations and critical infrastructure. In Kuwait, a desalination plant and oil facility were hit, disrupting water supplies and causing fires. Iranian strikes also targeted a Kurdish dissident group’s base in Iraq, wounding eight members, and prompted air defense alerts in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The U.S. has accused Iran of launching coordinated attacks across the region, including targeting an air base in Bahrain and fuel storage facilities in Jordan. Trump has previously threatened to strike Iran’s power stations and bridges to pressure Tehran into easing its grip on the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, redirecting five ships and disabling one in recent days. Meanwhile, Iran claims U.S. strikes have killed at least 50 people and injured over 500 in the past three weeks, including eight fatalities in a bridge strike.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had struck a U.S. military support center at Kuwait’s Camp Arifjan and destroyed a radar facility at Ali Al Salem Air Base. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation later said one of its oil facilities had been hit in "repeated Iranian attacks," causing significant damage and some injuries. The IRGC also targeted a site in Bahrain where U.S. combat aircraft were gathered at Sheikh Isa Air Base and an intelligence data center, Iranian media said. Saudi Arabia’s early warning system issued alerts early on Saturday urging residents of Al-Kharj and Yanbu to seek shelter, with Al-Kharj home to a military base hosting U.S. troops. The U.S. military said it launched fresh airstrikes against Iran at 6 pm ET on the orders of the commander in chief, targeting what it described as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) forces.

The UAE expressed deep concern over the developments, calling for an immediate halt to the escalation and urging restraint to avoid further violence. The EU and Gulf states are also calling on Iran to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz without conditions or fees, according to reports by Saudi state media. The Strait of Hormuz, which once accounted for 20% of global oil supplies, remains a flashpoint, with both sides vying for control. The U.S. has pledged to protect shipping lanes, while Iran continues to assert its dominance, accusing the U.S. of violating international norms. As the conflict intensifies, the risk of civilian casualties and economic disruption grows, with the global economy already on edge.