Fifth Consecutive Day: US Military Launches Further Strikes on Iran

The US government justified the strikes with the behavior of the Iranian leadership. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said in Washington that President Trump would not stand by idly as Iran attacks ships in the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, Leavitt declared that Iran was still in close communication with the United States of America.

Attacks on US Allies in the Region

Tehran reacted to the US strikes with its own attacks on targets in the region. Jordan also reported renewed shelling from Iran. Additionally, according to allied states, projectiles struck Kuwait and Bahrain, which are considered US allies. The conflict has thus expanded beyond the direct warring parties to other neighboring states.

Iran also threatened, according to the report, to block the Red Sea in addition to the Strait of Hormuz in the future. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes; a large share of global oil trade passes through this sea lane. A blockade would have significant consequences for the world economy and energy supply far beyond the region.

Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea as Leverage

Reporting on the strikes was compiled by the news agencies dpa and AFX from the capitals Washington and Tehran. WASHINGTON/TEHRAN (dpa-AFX). It initially remained unclear whether the announced talks between Washington and Tehran would actually take place.

With the continued strikes, concern is growing about further escalation in the region. Should Trump make good on his threat and target civilian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges, observers assess this would be a qualitatively different step in the conflict. The coming days are therefore considered decisive for whether the conflict will result in negotiations or expand further.