The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said it carried out a series of airstrikes on targets in Iran, calling them a response to a “broad range of threats.” The attacks were the first after a 13-day pause announced by President Donald Trump to create space for negotiations. In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck targets in Jordan and Kuwait, vowing to continue reprisal for alleged threats emanating from the United States.
In a CENTCOM statement, it was specified that the strikes targeted military command centers, as well as missile and drone facilities of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The purpose of the operation was stated as “reducing threats from Iran and its proxy forces to U.S. forces, commercial shipping, and Persian Gulf countries.” More than 50,000 American service members are currently in the region, and, according to the command, they are at “the highest combat readiness.”
Iranian officials reported explosions in several provinces, including Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Bushehr and Fars. On Qeshm Island, damage to a residential building was recorded; under the rubble, victims were found. In the city of Ahvaz and other settlements, power outages occurred due to damage to power grids. The governor of Bushehr province said the strikes hit two locations in Jagdaak County, but without serious losses.
The Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense said the Iranian attack hit a building belonging to a Chinese company in the north of the country. One worker was killed, and significant material damage was done. The ministry confirmed that Kuwaiti forces are taking measures to protect the state’s sovereignty and security.
Against the backdrop of the escalation, Pakistan called on Tehran and Washington to exercise restraint and resume dialogue. A spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that consultations between Iran and the United States regarding the situation in the Strait of Hormuz continue. Islamabad said it is ready to do everything possible to support diplomatic steps aimed at preventing tensions from spreading further in the region.
Comments on the news
Why does Qeshm Island have strategic significance for Iran in military and economic terms? — Qeshm Island is located in the Strait of Hormuz, controlling a key route for global oil supplies. Economically, it is Iran’s largest island and a center of free trade (the Qeshm free trade zone), attracting foreign investment and industry. Militarily, Iran uses the island to station naval bases, missile launch sites, and surveillance systems, enabling it to block or control shipping in the strait during a conflict.
What is the difference between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the regular army, and why is it important for understanding the conflict? — The IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) is an ideologically driven military force directly subordinate to Iran’s Supreme Leader, responsible for protecting the Islamic Revolution as well as for external operations (including proxy forces in Lebanon, Yemen and Syria). The regular army (Artesh) focuses on border defense and traditional defense. The distinction matters because the IRGC has its own control over missile forces, intelligence, and economic assets, making it a key player in regional conflicts and negotiations, and also creating tension between the two structures.
What is the importance of the Strait of Hormuz for the global economy, and how could its possible blockade affect worldwide energy supplies? — About 20–25% of the world’s oil volume (roughly 17–20 million barrels per day) passes through the Strait of Hormuz, along with a significant share of liquefied natural gas (LNG), mainly from the Gulf countries. Blocking the strait—even temporarily—would trigger a sharp jump in oil and gas prices, disrupt supply chains, and provoke an energy crisis in Asia, Europe and North America. Iran has often threatened to close the strait in response to sanctions or a military threat, making it a key vulnerability point for the global economy.
Full version: عودة الضربات.. ما الذي نعرفه عن أحدث الهجمات المتبادلة بين أمريكا وإيران؟