(Photo: Younis Al-Bayati/AFP) /
The US military launched “powerful” strikes on Iran on Thursday in retaliation for its attacks on US bases in Jordan.
Saudi Arabia and the US also announced attacks on bases of militant groups in Iraq on Wednesday, while US ally Israel accused Hezbollah of violating a ceasefire.
According to Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, there have been drone attacks targeting crude oil facilities in the past two days. The attacks are believed to have been carried out by Iraqi armed groups linked to Iran.
Iran launched missiles at US ally Jordan, with Iranian state media later reporting a US strike near the Islamic Republic’s border with Iraq.
Pres. Before the latest attacks, Donald Trump told Fox News: “We’re going to hit them hard”.
Jordan’s army said it had intercepted five Iranian missiles, with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard saying it had targeted US bases there.
“As long as the threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran continue… the resistance will continue,” the Revolutionary Guard added.
The US said the earlier ceasefire was aimed at starting a new round of negotiations, including on the Strait of Hormuz.
The Revolutionary Guard said it attacked and intercepted three tankers in the strait, insisting that Iran has “full control” of the waterway that previously offered free passage.
Tehran has insisted it will retain control of the vital energy transit channel, and has also announced plans to charge tolls for transit, which Washington opposes.