- The United States and Iran each fired barrages of missiles Thursday, as the pattern of back-and-forth strikes took hold again and hope dimmed for any quick resolution.
- President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran 'very hard' after it targeted the base.
- The latest barrage came after the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to strike Iran-backed militias in Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers on Wednesday.
- Jordan said Thursday it intercepted Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day, while Kuwait said a strike in the northern part of the country killed one person.
- Iran’s official IRNA news agency said three people were killed and two were wounded in a strike on the island of Qeshm, which lies just off the Iranian mainland in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Pakistan, which had helped broker an interim agreement to end the war, said Thursday that diplomatic efforts were continuing.
- The negotiations between the parties are ongoing to normalize the situation, particularly the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, and as well to de-escalate.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated dramatically as both nations exchanged missile strikes on Thursday, marking a significant increase in hostilities. President Trump vowed to hit Iran 'very hard' following an Iranian missile attack on a U.S. base in Jordan.14
The U.S. military reported completing 'a heavy wave of strikes against Iran' in retaliation for the earlier attack, which has led to a cycle of violence. The Iranian official news agency reported that three people were killed and two were wounded in a strike on the island of Qeshm, located in the strategic Strait of Hormuz.57
In a broader context, the U.S. partnered with Saudi Arabia to target Iran-backed militias in Iraq, resulting in the deaths of at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Jordan intercepted Iranian missiles for the second consecutive day, and a strike in northern Kuwait resulted in one fatality.3
Despite the ongoing violence, diplomatic efforts are still underway. Pakistan, which previously helped broker an interim agreement, stated that negotiations are continuing to normalize the situation and de-escalate tensions in the region, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz.6
As the situation develops, the international community watches closely, hoping for a resolution to the escalating conflict.
“The US military completed a heavy wave of strikes against Iran in response to an earlier missile attack on a US base in Jordan. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing to normalize the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, with Pakistan continuing its diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.”
