US Expands Airstrikes on Iran as Tehran Responds with Attacks on Gulf States

The United States military completed a third wave of airstrikes on Iran early Thursday, marking an escalation in hostilities. For the first time since the ceasefire, Iran activated air defense systems near Tehran. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes targeted Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities to degrade Iran's ability to threaten innocent mariners in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced attacks on radar systems at the Ali Al-Salem base in Kuwait. The Iranian military also claimed to have struck US communication systems and fuel tanks in Jordan, releasing footage of drone launches. Jordanian forces reported intercepting eight Iranian missiles.

Prior to the strikes, US President Donald Trump renewed threats against Iran, warning them to "behave well" without setting a deadline. In a Fox Business interview, he suggested the Revolutionary Guards are open to negotiations but only respond to strong pressure. Speaking at a defense conference in Pennsylvania, Trump stated Iran "wants a deal" but warned, "we will either make a deal or finish them."

Reports from the Wall Street Journal indicate that Trump is considering broadening the campaign against Iran after consultations with senior advisors. Proposed measures include expanding airstrikes, deploying ground forces to seize Iranian islands near the Strait of Hormuz, and bombing the nuclear site known as "Mount K".

This latest wave follows four consecutive nights of US-Iran exchanges. Yesterday afternoon, CENTCOM announced a new round of strikes targeting Iranian sites, including near the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, according to the Iranian Mehr news agency.