Accra: The US launched another round of air strikes against Iran on Saturday night, targeting its coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, US military officials have confirmed. US Central Command (Centcom) reported successful hits on Iranian military capabilities, while Iranian state media claimed strikes on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Ghana Web, Centcom also targeted Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), holding them accountable for the attack that resulted in the deaths of two US troops in Jordan on Friday. Another service member remains unaccounted for following these attacks. In retaliation, Iran's military conducted drone strikes on two US bases located in Kuwait, as reported by state media.
The escalation in hostilities has seen both nations intensifying their military actions, with accusations of targeting crucial infrastructure surfacing from both sides. Iran's "large-scale attacks with kamikaze drones" were reportedly aimed at American military sites, including a depot at Camp Udairi and the Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, as stated by the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency.
The US strikes, marking the eighth consecutive night of military actions, aimed to further weaken Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Centcom explained. The strikes were intended to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night," their statement added.
This recent surge in violence follows a breakdown in a preliminary ceasefire agreement that collapsed less than a month after its initiation. Washington had earlier reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports, prompting Tehran to declare the Strait of Hormuz closed.
In a statement issued earlier on Saturday, Centcom confirmed the deaths of two US service members in Jordan while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. One service member remains missing, with Centcom withholding further details out of respect for the families involved.
Reacting to the tragic loss, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his condolences on X, stating, "Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve."
The death toll for US personnel in the conflict has now risen to 16, following the recent declaration of death for an American Navy pilot who went missing earlier this month. This marks the second increase in the US toll within the week.
Despite a preliminary deal to end hostilities reached in June, the agreement fell apart within weeks, with President Donald Trump pronouncing the deal "over" on 8 July.