US-Iran Conflict Escalates With New Strikes Near Hormuz

The U.S.-Iran conflict intensified on Wednesday after the two sides carried out their most significant exchange of attacks in weeks, raising fears of a wider Middle East war as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz escalate.

U.S. Central Command said American forces completed a wave of strikes against Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Tuesday. Targets included air defense and radar systems, maritime facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications infrastructure.

Iranian media reported strikes across several parts of the country, including areas near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Iran has threatened tankers attempting to pass through the waterway without its authorization.

Tehran retaliated by targeting U.S. assets in Jordan and Iraq, while Iranian media also reported attacks on Bahrain. The IRGC claimed U.S. troops were killed in Jordan, but two American officials said initial assessments showed no casualties.

Jordan said its air defenses confronted 13 ballistic missiles, intercepting 10 while three landed in remote areas. Bahrain also reported destroying Iranian drones.

The IRGC separately claimed missile and drone attacks on U.S. bases in Erbil, northern Iraq, caused American casualties. Neither Washington nor Baghdad had confirmed that claim.

The renewed fighting marks the first major combat since July, ending a period of relative calm that failed to produce meaningful negotiations.

President Donald Trump signaled that Washington could intensify military action, saying the U.S. was in a stronger position and pointing to pressure on Iran’s economy and the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s joint military command warned that continued U.S. attacks would trigger broader and more destructive retaliation, including consequences for countries assisting American forces.

Civilian casualties have also become a major concern. Iran’s Red Crescent said five people were killed and 50 wounded when a wedding near Sirik, on the Strait of Hormuz coast, was hit. Mehr reported that a 4-year-old child was among the dead, while IRNA cited a provincial official who put the wounded at 68.

U.S. officials have not commented on the wedding incident. Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack and vowed a firm response, further heightening fears that the latest U.S.-Iran escalation could disrupt regional security and global energy markets.