Trump says US strikes hit Iran in renewed campaign against Tehran

Constantvpn.com – President Donald Trump has declared that the latest American military operations against Iran were conducted “in honour” of three US soldiers who lost their lives in recent days. The president stated that the strikes hit Iran “very hard,” emphasizing that the military response was designed to honor the fallen troops—two killed in Jordan and one in Iraq. In the early hours of Monday local time, US Central Command confirmed it had launched a “new wave” of attacks for the ninth consecutive night, with explosions reported across multiple Iranian cities.

The United States announced that the operations targeted military installations and communications networks with the goal of “further diminish[ing]” Tehran’s attacks on vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz. This escalation comes amid growing tensions over the critical shipping route, which has become a focal point of regional conflict. Trump says US strikes hit Iran as part of a broader strategy to protect American interests and ensure freedom of navigation in the waterway.

Regional Response and Casualties

Iran responded to the American attacks with what it described as a “surprise attack” in Syria, targeting US aircraft stationed at Jordan’s Aqaba airport. According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, several Iranian cities were affected by the overnight strikes, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, Bandar Mahshahr, and Bandar Imam Khomeini. Meanwhile, Kuwait’s armed forces reported intercepting Iranian drones in the region.

“The strait will not be safe for the transit of petrochemical products, nor even a single drop of oil and gas” as long as the US strikes continue, said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Iranian state media also reported that two oil tankers exploded while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed the vessels were traveling through what it termed an “unsafe and hazardous southern route” before they “exploded and were brought to a halt.” However, US Central Command disputed these assertions, casting doubt on Iran’s version of events.

The IRGC warned that it would launch a “punitive operation” if the American military campaign persists. Over the weekend, the United States confirmed that a service member had been killed following an Iranian attack in northern Iraq on Saturday. This tragedy followed news that a separate assault on a base in Jordan on Friday had resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers.

The Pentagon has now identified the two fallen soldiers as Pte Isabella Gonzales, aged 19, and Lt Tyler James Feehan, aged 25. A third serviceperson remains missing after the Jordan attack, with US officials confirming that “unidentified remains” have been recovered during ongoing search operations. As the military confrontation continued over the weekend, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington “always remains open to a diplomatic solution.”

Rubio also highlighted that “the world has to decide whether or not it’s going to allow an international waterway to be under the control” of Iran, noting that Tehran was exploiting the crucial shipping route as geopolitical leverage. His remarks come as a preliminary ceasefire agreement reached in mid-June has largely collapsed. Negotiations for a lasting peace have made minimal progress since Trump announced on 8 July that the temporary deal was “over,” setting the stage for continued military action in the region.