WASHINGTON — The United States launched a heavy wave of airstrikes against Iran, targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) facilities, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, in retaliation for what it described as an attempted Iranian ballistic missile attack on American forces in the Middle East a day earlier.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation lasted about two hours and struck command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal surveillance positions, maritime defense sites and other military infrastructure linked to the IRGC. The military said the strikes were intended to reduce Iran's ability to threaten U.S. forces, commercial shipping and regional partners.
President Donald Trump had earlier pledged a forceful response after Iranian forces launched ballistic missiles toward U.S. military installations, including bases in Jordan. U.S. officials said the incoming missiles were intercepted and no significant casualties were reported among American personnel.
CENTCOM described the operation as a "powerful response" to the attempted missile attack, while emphasizing that more than 50,000 U.S. service members remain deployed across the Middle East. The command said those forces remain on heightened alert as tensions continue across the region.
Iranian authorities had not immediately issued a comprehensive assessment of the damage from the strikes. Iranian state media reported explosions in several areas, while local officials continued to assess the impact. Independent verification of damage or casualty figures was not immediately available.
The latest exchange marks another escalation in a conflict that has intensified in recent months, with repeated U.S. and Iranian military actions raising concerns about broader regional instability. The renewed hostilities follow the collapse of a temporary pause in fighting after both sides accused each other of violating earlier understandings.
Regional governments continued to monitor the security situation closely. Jordan said it had intercepted Iranian missiles during the latest exchange, while officials across the Gulf assessed potential risks to military installations and commercial shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global energy exports, has remained a focal point of heightened security concerns throughout the crisis.
As of Wednesday, neither Washington nor Tehran had announced any renewed diplomatic contacts following the strikes. U.S. officials said military operations had concluded, while regional governments continued efforts to prevent further escalation.
