US launches airstrikes against Iran after deadly attack in Jordan
The United States military announced on Sunday that it carried out new airstrikes against Iran, targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in response to an attack in Jordan that killed two American service members and left one missing.
According to a statement from U.S. Central Command, the strikes were intended to “swiftly punish” the IRGC and further degrade its ability to block oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The operation is part of ongoing hostilities between the two nations.
The attack in Jordan, which occurred on Saturday, marked the first U.S. military deaths since the renewal of hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, vowed to teach the United States “unforgettable lessons” in a speech on Saturday, without specifying the nature of any retaliation.
In a separate development, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun departed Beirut for Washington on Saturday for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. His office confirmed the trip, which follows the latest round of Lebanon-Israel talks held in Italy. This is the first visit by a Lebanese head of state to the United States since 2009, when Michel Sleiman met then-President Barack Obama.
The situation in West Asia remains tense, with both sides signalling further military action. The United Nations has called for restraint and a de-escalation of hostilities to prevent a wider regional conflict.
