The US has launched fresh airstrikes on Iran after two American service members were killed in an Iranian drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan.
US Central Command said the operation late on Saturday was intended to “swiftly punish” the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Donald Trump described the deaths of the service members as “a very sad thing”, saying the troops had died “in service of our country”. He added that Washington remained committed to “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
Iran earlier said it was suspending its commitments under an initial peace agreement with the US, accusing Washington of violating the deal through its continued military campaign.
In a statement attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei and broadcast on state television, Iran’s supreme leader declared Trump’s signature on the accord “worthless and invalid” and warned the US of “unforgettable lessons” if it continued attacking the Islamic Republic.
ICYMI: Two US service members killed by Iranian attacks in Jordan, military says
At least two US service members were killed in action while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan, marking the first American deaths in the aftermath of a tenuous ceasefire agreement earlier this year, according to US Central Command.
In pictures: US airstrikes on Iran
US says naval blockade has redirected five ships
The US military says it has redirected five vessels and disabled another as part of a renewed naval blockade aimed at disrupting Iran’s oil exports.
US Central Command said the blockade, reimposed in the past week, is designed to halt shipments of Iranian crude oil. It added that the guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook was continuing blockade operations in the Arabian Sea.
Washington has continued to target Iranian infrastructure linked to operations around the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping has been severely disrupted since the start of the war.
US issues worldwide travel caution amid Iran conflict
The US has issued a worldwide travel caution, advising Americans to “exercise increased caution” as the conflict with Iran raises the risk of attacks on US interests overseas.
The State Department said Americans abroad, “especially in the Middle East”, should follow security guidance from the nearest US embassy or consulate, warning that periodic airspace closures could disrupt travel.
It also said US diplomatic facilities, including those outside the region, “have been targeted” and warned that groups supportive of Iran “may target other US interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world”.
US completes eighth consecutive night of strikes on Iran
The US military has completed its eighth consecutive night of strikes targeting military sites in Iran, as Washington intensified its campaign against Tehran.
US Central Command (Centcom) said it struck Iranian “military coastal surveillance and air defence facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites” to continue “degrading Iranian military capabilities”.
American forces also targeted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel that Centcom said had launched the 17 July attack on US service members in Jordan, in which two American troops were killed.
In a statement, Centcom said more than 50,000 US military personnel remain deployed across the Middle East and are “highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready”.
Iran’s supreme leader warns US of ‘unforgettable lessons’
Iran’s supreme leader has warned the US that it will face “unforgettable lessons” if it continues its military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
In remarks broadcast on Iranian state television and attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, the supreme leader also described president Donald Trump’s signature as “worthless and invalid”.
Khamenei said any response would come not only from Iran but also from its regional allies, referring to the so-called “Axis of Resistance”, signalling that Tehran could draw on proxy groups across the Middle East as the conflict intensifies.
Iran says it is no longer bound by interim US agreement
Iran has announced that it is suspending its commitments under an interim agreement with the United States, accusing Washington of violating the deal through its continued military campaign.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, told state television that Tehran was “no longer implementing” the agreement, which had been signed about a month ago in an effort to permanently end the fighting.
Asked about Iran’s decision, Donald Trump dismissed the move, telling NewsNation he “couldn’t care less”. He added that Washington remained focused on “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
US strikes reported near Shadegan and on Qeshm Island
Fresh US airstrikes have hit areas near the southwestern Iranian city of Shadegan and on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian officials and state media.
Khuzestan’s deputy governor for security, quoted by Tasnim news agency, said emergency teams had been deployed near Shadegan and that further information on the extent of the damage would be released later.
On Qeshm Island, Tasnim reported that at least two explosions were heard after another round of US attacks. Emergency, security and operational teams were sent to assess the locations struck and determine whether there were any casualties or damage.
Trump calls deaths of US troops in Jordan ‘a very sad thing’
US president Donald Trump described the deaths of two American service members in Jordan as “a very sad thing” after they were killed while defending against Iranian missile and drone attacks.
Trump told NewsNation that the troops had died “in service of our country” and repeated that the conflict’s central objective was “never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon”.
On Iran’s announcement that it would no longer abide by a US-Iran memorandum of understanding, Trump replied: “I couldn’t care less.”
US launches fresh strikes on Iran after deaths of 2 service members
The US military launched a new wave of airstrikes on Iran on Sunday, saying the attacks were intended to “swiftly punish” the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after an Iranian drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan killed two American service members, left another missing and wounded four others.
US Central Command said the strikes were aimed at further degrading Iran’s ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, where Tehran has stepped up maritime operations in recent days.
The US confirmed its first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. Since the conflict began, 16 US service members have been killed and more than 430 wounded, according to the Pentagon.
Source: independent.co.uk