The United States carried out its eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iran on Saturday night, hours after confirming the deaths of two American soldiers in Iranian attacks on a US base in Jordan. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the strikes were designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Targets of the Latest Strikes
CENTCOM announced on X that the strikes targeted Iranian military coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites. According to Iranian media reports cited by Al Jazeera, the attacks hit Sirik at 1:30 am local time (22:00 GMT Saturday), Qeshm Island at about 3:38 am (00:08 GMT Sunday) and again at 6:10 am local time (02:40 GMT), and a location near Shadegan in Khuzestan province at 5:55 am (02:25 GMT Sunday).
Iranian Retaliation Against US Bases in Kuwait
In response, Iran targeted US assets at two bases in Kuwait. Iran's military said it struck a US ammunition depot at Al-Adiri camp and the Patriot radar and air radar at the Ali Al Salem base in Kuwait.
American Casualties Confirmed
The latest strikes occurred hours after CENTCOM confirmed the death of two American soldiers in Iranian strikes on a US base in Jordan. One other soldier is missing, and four others were injured in the attack. President Donald Trump described the deaths as "a very sad thing," adding, "We hate to see it happen. It's in service to our country."
Iranian Leadership Warns of Consequences
Top Iranian commander Ali Abdullahi warned that the armed forces will respond decisively to "any aggression or barbarism" from the US. Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned of "unforgettable lessons" if the US continued its attacks, accusing the US of "repeated breaches of agreements" and describing President Trump's signature as "worthless and invalid."
Expansion of Conflict to Civilian Infrastructure
The conflict, initially focused on control over the Strait of Hormuz, has expanded to targeting civilian infrastructure. The US struck and damaged several civilian facilities, including bridges, water, and power plants. Strikes on desalination pumps in the coastal village of Bunji cut water supply to about 10,000 people across 20 villages. At least three people died in an attack on Hormozgan province on Friday. The Iranian Health Ministry reported that over 50 people have died and more than 500 have been wounded due to US strikes since July 6. Iran retaliated by firing strikes into Kuwait, causing a fire at a power and water desalination plant.
