TEHRAN: Iran has launched missile attacks against US military positions in Iraq and Jordan after the United States resumed strikes on Iranian targets, escalating hostilities between the two countries.
Iranian state media reported that 11 people had been killed in US strikes in Iran, including seven people killed in an attack on three locations in the southwestern province of Khuzestan.
IRNA quoted the province’s deputy governor for security and law enforcement affairs as saying the attack also injured eight people.
The Iranian Red Crescent said earlier that four people, including a child, were killed and more than 50 wounded in a US strike on a wedding in Sirik county.
Iran Retaliates
Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a barrage of ballistic missiles at a US Marine base in Aqaba, Jordan, in retaliation for the Sirik attack.
The Jordanian Armed Forces said its air defences intercepted 13 ballistic missiles. Ten were destroyed, while three fell in remote areas.
No deaths or injuries were reported in Jordan.
Jordan’s national security centre also warned residents in Aqaba and Mafraq governorates about possible falling debris before later ending the alert.
Kuwait’s army separately said its air defences were responding to Iranian missile attacks early on Wednesday.
Iranian state media also reported several explosions in Bahrain following Iranian attacks.
US Says Strikes Targeted IRGC
US Central Command (Centcom) said its strikes on Iran followed what it described as “recent attempted attacks” by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Centcom said US forces began striking IRGC targets at 12:00 ET (16:00 GMT) and completed the operation by early Wednesday.
Iranian state media reported projectiles striking areas around Chabahar and Konarak, as well as an airport in Jiroft. Explosions were also reported on Qeshm Island and in Bandar Abbas.
US Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, speaking for Centcom, told the BBC that the US was aware of reports concerning the attack in Sirik.
Ceasefire Agreement Has Expired
The latest escalation follows the first known US strikes on Iran since late July, when American forces attacked two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran responded by firing missiles at US-linked air bases in Jordan and sending a drone towards the United Arab Emirates.
The United States and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February. Iran responded with attacks on Israel, US bases and allied states in the Gulf, while the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed to marine traffic.
A US-Iran agreement, known as the Memorandum of Understanding, was signed in June to extend a ceasefire between the two countries. That agreement has since expired, allowing hostilities to resume.
Both Washington and Tehran have also targeted shipping. Iran has attacked vessels it says attempted to cross the Strait without permission, while the US has enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump Warns Of Stronger Response
US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that Iran would face attacks at “a much harder and higher level” if it retaliated against the US strikes.
Washington also announced a new sanctions campaign on 24 August aimed at further isolating Tehran and expanding secondary sanctions against countries and entities supporting Iran.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at a G20 finance ministers meeting that many US allies had “—- came forward and said they will do whatever is necessary” regarding the sanctions.
Iranian officials and state media have largely dismissed the latest sanctions as a continuation of previous US economic measures.
However, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was quoted by state media on Tuesday as saying that Iran would reciprocate if the US returned to its commitments under the agreement.
