The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes for a second consecutive day on Thursday, deepening fears that a fragile ceasefire reached in April could collapse and push the region back into a wider conflict.
The latest escalation came as Donald Trump, United States president, warned Tehran to agree to a peace deal immediately or face further military action. According to Reuters, the renewed fighting followed days of rising tensions after a US Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week, triggering a series of retaliatory attacks across the Middle East.
Read also: US launches new strikes on Iran after helicopter downed
The US military said it carried out what it described as “self-defence strikes” against military surveillance systems, communication networks and air defence sites in southern Iran.
According to US Central Command, the operation was launched in response to what it called Iran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression” against American forces and interests in the region.
