Iran and US exchange strikes again, tensions escalate in Hormuz
Iran announced on Monday that it attacked US military targets in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates in "self-defense," responding to US bombardments. This marks the first exchange of strikes after a month of calm in the Middle East. The conflict has entered its seventh month, and diplomatic efforts to end it are stalled. Following the announcement of new strikes, crude oil prices rose, with Brent crude surpassing $90 per barrel. According to Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for the US Central Command Centcom, US forces struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. These attacks occurred after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets loaded with naval mines in Hormuz. Iran's Tasnim news agency reported two deaths and two injuries from this attack. In retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have attacked US military installations at two air bases in Jordan with ballistic missiles and drones. The Jordanian army stated it shot down eight missiles that entered its airspace, without specifying their origin. Tehran also reported attacking a base in the UAE, where US helicopters and troops are stationed, with drones and shooting down a US drone in the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE confirmed it "reacted" to a drone from Iran detected over its territorial waters. The US military has not commented on these attacks, which Iranian diplomacy stated were conducted "in accordance with the right to self-defense." The las
