US Launches New Iran Strikes After Soldier Deaths: What’s Next?

The United States has carried out fresh military strikes on Iran following the deaths of two American soldiers in an Iranian attack in Jordan late on Friday. This marks the eighth consecutive night of U.S. attacks on Iran since the conflict between the two nations reignited this month, further complicating ongoing efforts to maintain a fragile ceasefire.

Here is a detailed account of what transpired on Saturday night and early Sunday, along with statements from leaders on both sides:

Where was Iran attacked?

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), at 03:30 GMT on Sunday, U.S. forces targeted Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. CENTCOM stated that these strikes were aimed at Iranian forces from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responsible for attacks against U.S. military personnel in Jordan on Friday, which occurred on Saturday local time.

“The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night,” CENTCOM said.

Al Jazeera’s Resul Serdar Atas, reporting from Tehran, noted that the U.S. attacks are intended to “isolate” southern Iran from the rest of the country. He reported that several bridges, railways, tunnels, airports, and roads have been hit, significantly disrupting the movement of people, goods, and logistical supplies. Hospitals are being evacuated, and school exams have been postponed.

“The U.S. is trying to degrade the IRGC’s capacity, but these infrastructures are also used by civilians. Americans are trying to isolate the south of the country from the rest of Iran. On the other hand, the IRGC says it will not give up the Strait of Hormuz. They believe the reason the U.S. is focusing on these provinces along the waterway is to ensure that the IRGC does not control it,” Serdar Atas added.

Al Jazeera’s Tohid Assidi, also reporting from Tehran, cited reports that jet sounds were heard over Kish Island, and there were explosions in the city of Sirik. Sirik is a strategically important location as it oversees the Strait of Hormuz. Explosions were also reported in the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas, with multiple attacks on nearby Qeshm Island, according to Iranian media.

The Mehr news agency reported that a location near Qeshm was targeted in a U.S. military attack. The Tasnim news agency reported that at least six missiles struck areas on the outskirts of the island. Additionally, U.S. jets targeted a location near the city of Shadegan in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province, as reported by Tasnim, citing the province’s deputy governor for security.

Where in the Gulf has Iran struck?

Kuwait:
Iran’s army claimed on Sunday to have launched a large-scale drone attack on two “U.S. military facilities” in Kuwait, including an ammunition depot at Camp al-Adiri and air defense radars at Ali Al Salem airbase, as reported by Iranian media. The Kuwaiti military responded by stating that its air defenses were “confronting hostile missile and drone attacks” after “sinful Iranian aggression.”

Bahrain:
Air raid sirens were sounded across the Gulf kingdom, including in the capital Manama, on Sunday. Bahrain’s interior ministry urged citizens and residents to remain calm and seek the nearest safe place.

What have officials on either side said?

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed sadness over the deaths of the American soldiers in the Iranian attack on Jordan on Friday, saying, “We’re never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the U.S. would face “unforgettable lessons” at the hands of Tehran and its regional allies. He accused the U.S. of repeatedly violating the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries. A written statement attributed to Khamenei, read on state television, claimed that Trump’s signature on the MoU was “utterly worthless and invalid.”

Major-General Ali Abdullahi, commander of Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, warned the U.S., stating, “Any aggression or barbarism will be met with a decisive and devastating response” from Iran’s armed forces. In a statement carried by Iranian state media on Sunday, Abdullahi referred to the U.S. as “the Great Satan” as well as “the criminal, treacherous and deceitful enemy.”