U.S. forces launched a new round of strikes inside Iran, military officials said Tuesday, an expansion of attacks that recently resumed after weeks of a tenuous ceasefire.
The strikes were in response to attempted attacks by Iran on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and U.S. service members in the Middle East, according to Central Command, which oversees operations in the region. The strikes targeted air defense sites, radars, equipment used to distribute mines and other systems, Central Command said.
President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that any retaliation would see Iran “hit again at a much harder and higher level.”
Iran responded with missiles and drones launched toward U.S. positions in the region.
U.S. forces were intercepting those strikes into the night, a U.S. official said, though it was unclear whether they resulted in damage or casualties. The official, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing operations.
Many of the 50,000 U.S. troops in the region have focused on enforcing Trump’s naval blockade, designed to inflict economic pain on Iran and to protect commercial vessels from attacks.
Two oil tankers in the strait were struck by unknown projectiles Monday, according to ship monitors, raising concerns that safe commercial passage through the critical waterway is not yet guaranteed by U.S. personnel.
The Trump administration has said it is still working toward a negotiated end to the conflict contingent on several requirements, including Tehran surrendering its nuclear ambitions. That key goal, outlined by Trump at the onset of hostilities, has not been achieved through military force.
“Our goal is to get Iran to come to a deal. They understand what we want out of a deal,” a White House official said. “We’ve been very clear about that. And it’s incumbent upon them to come to that conclusion.”
The renewed hostilities began Sunday, when the United States conducted airstrikes on missile launchers on Larak Island that were preparing to disperse sea mines into the strait, U.S. officials said.
In response, Iran fired ballistic missiles at a Jordanian base housing U.S. troops. Trump said on social media Tuesday that eight missiles were intercepted, and there were no reports of casualties from U.S. officials.
Isaac Arnsdorf contributed to this report.
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