US Launches Largest Strikes on Iran Since Ceasefire Amid Rising Gulf Tensions

For the second consecutive night, intense exchanges of fire occurred in the Gulf as the US military carried out its most extensive strikes on Iran since the ceasefire. Overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, US Central Command announced attacks on approximately 90 targets across Iran’s coastline, including air defense units, missile and drone storage sites, maritime assets, and military infrastructure. Notably, bridges were targeted for the first time since the war ended. In retaliation, Iranian forces fired on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

US President Donald Trump framed the strikes as a response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that any further aggression would provoke a harsher response. He also noted that Iran recently expressed interest in negotiations, calling them "a bit unhinged" but eager for a deal. Trump had previously declared the ceasefire over and dismissed talks with Iran as a waste of time during a summit in Turkey alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant canceled their attendance at a National Security Institute ceremony due to a last-minute security discussion. A US official told Israeli media that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin canceled a planned visit to Israel to focus on approving strike plans against Iran. Despite escalating tensions, Israeli defense assessments suggest the conflict is unlikely to expand beyond the Gulf region, with no changes to Home Front Command directives and the IDF maintaining its current alert level.

The US strikes followed Iranian attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, with over 80 Iranian targets hit, including Revolutionary Guard naval assets. An Iranian Revolutionary Guard soldier was reportedly killed. US officials described the strikes as punitive rather than proportional, targeting energy facilities and ports. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US actions as violations of a memorandum of understanding and warned of a decisive response. The Revolutionary Guards claimed to have struck 85 US targets in Bahrain and Kuwait and downed an American MQ-9 drone. Kuwait condemned the attacks and reserved the right to defend itself. Iranian military statements threatened continued attacks on US targets if US strikes persist. Explosions were reported near Bushehr in southwestern Iran, followed by alarms in Bahrain.