The United States launched a fresh round of attacks on Iran on Wednesday morning, following a series of overnight strikes. The latest attacks were aimed at degrading Iranian military capabilities used to target commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to U.S. Central Command, the strikes were designed to weaken Iranian forces that have been involved in attacks on commercial vessels. The Command reported that the military actions began at 6 a.m. ET.
The overnight attacks had resulted in the deaths of at least seven Iranian military personnel, with the U.S. targeting a military base in the southeastern city of Bampur. Iranian state media reported that the base's barracks, accommodation facilities, guard posts, and a guesthouse were targeted.
In response to the U.S. attacks, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that it had launched retaliatory strikes against American military targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The IRGC stated that the attacks were part of a broader campaign to target U.S. military interests.
Separately, Iran's judiciary reported that a man had been hanged for his involvement in anti-government protests in January. Mohammad Amini Dehaghani was found guilty of "moharebeh" (war against God in Persian) and "corruption on earth" after throwing a Molotov cocktail at a government building.
The protests, which began in late December, were sparked by the cost of living in Iran and resulted in widespread demonstrations across the country. Rights groups have reported that thousands of people were killed in the government's crackdown on the protests.
The latest developments come as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to escalate. The U.S. has reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and launched a series of strikes on Iranian military targets.
