The United States and Iran exchanged strikes on Wednesday and Thursday, placing a fragile April ceasefire under its most serious strain yet and drawing several Gulf states directly into the latest round of escalation.
The renewed hostilities followed the downing of an American helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, after which Washington launched strikes on Iranian military infrastructure.
US officials said the attacks were aimed at Iranian surveillance, communications and air defence systems that posed a threat to American forces and commercial shipping in regional waters.
US Central Command said the latest wave of strikes began at 5:15pm Washington time on Wednesday, early Thursday in Iran, and had been “completed”. It said Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets fired precision munitions at targets across Iran.
Iranian media reported explosions in several areas, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm and Minab, near the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also cited strikes in Karaj, Nazarabad and Pishva, near Tehran. Iranian media said at least three people were wounded in Tehran province.
