US, Iran exchange attacks as months-long lull in war ends

The United States and Iran have resumed major military attacks after weeks of relative calm, in the most significant exchange of fire between the two sides since July.

The renewed hostilities began after the United States carried out a fresh wave of strikes against targets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), according to the US military. Washington said the operation targeted air defence sites, radar systems, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities and communications facilities.

Iran subsequently launched attacks against US-linked military facilities and assets across parts of the Middle East. Iranian authorities said their forces targeted US positions in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Iraq as Tehran vowed to push American forces out of the region.

Jordan’s military said its air-defence systems dealt with 13 ballistic missiles that entered the country’s airspace. Ten were intercepted, while three fell in remote areas, Reuters reported.

Iran’s IRGC claimed that its forces had killed a number of US personnel during attacks on American positions in Jordan and northern Iraq. 

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However, US officials told Reuters that initial assessments showed no American casualties from the reported attacks. Iraq and the United States had also not independently confirmed the reported strike on US facilities in Erbil.

Kuwait also reported an Iranian drone attack that caused damage to a residential complex, although no casualties were reported. Bahrain, which hosts the regional headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, said Iranian drones had been intercepted and destroyed.

The renewed fighting has also heightened concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. Iran has threatened vessels attempting to pass through the waterway without its authorisation, while the United States has sought to keep the route open to international shipping.

The escalation comes after a weeks-long lull during which direct military exchanges had largely stopped. However, the pause did not result in a significant return to negotiations, with both Washington and Tehran maintaining hard-line positions.

The renewed confrontation is also occurring as both countries face the consequences of the prolonged conflict. Iran’s economy has suffered severe pressure, while its conventional military capabilities have been significantly degraded by months of fighting. The United States, meanwhile, has faced growing concerns over military readiness and the consumption of precision weapons.

US President Donald Trump has adopted a defiant position, saying Washington now has a stronger position because of its control over much of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s deteriorating economy.

Iran, however, has warned that continued American military action would result in broader retaliation against the United States and countries that support its military operations.

The latest exchange has raised fears that the conflict could once again widen across the Middle East, potentially threatening military bases, commercial shipping and energy supplies throughout the region.

(Reuters)