By Ahmed Tolba, Enas Alashray and Bo Erickson
DUBAI/WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) – America and Iran traded air assaults on Thursday for a second straight day, with President Donald Trump vowing additional strikes if Tehran doesn’t instantly conform to a peace deal.
The escalation in hostilities started earlier this week with the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter close to the Strait of Hormuz, which sparked a collection of tit-for-tat assaults throughout Iran and on U.S. bases across the area.
It was essentially the most critical risk to a fragile ceasefire agreed in April, dampening hopes for a swift finish to the conflict that began in late February with huge U.S.-Israeli joint air strikes on Iran.
The U.S. navy stated its newest assaults focused “navy surveillance capabilities, communication methods, and air protection websites throughout Iran” in response to what it known as Tehran’s “unwarranted and continued aggression.”
Trump informed Fox Information reporter Trey Yingst on Wednesday night the U.S. strikes would cease shortly however that he would resume heavy bombing if Iran’s leaders didn’t signal an settlement with the US instantly, Yingst wrote on X.
Oil costs rose practically $3 following Trump’s risk of escalation, and prolonged good points in early Asian commerce on Thursday.
The navy’s Central Command introduced the strikes have been full about 4 hours after they started, quickly after midnight in Tehran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it had launched counter-attacks on 18 U.S. navy targets at airbases in Kuwait and Bahrain, in addition to the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.
Itlater stated it had additionally focused the al-Azraq air base in Jordanfor a second evening working, firing 12 ballistic missiles on the U.S. base.
Kuwait’s air defences have been participating hostile aerial targets, the U.S. ally’s military stated, whereas Bahraini air defences intercepted and destroyed Iranian aerial assaults, a media adviser to Bahrain’s king stated on X.
US DENIES IRAN CLAIM THAT STRAIT IS CLOSED
Iran’s high joint navy command additionally warned it might hearth on any vessel attempting to go by the Strait of Hormuz, which has been largely closed for months. Iranian media stated two U.S. ships have been fired on.
U.S. Central Command denied that the strait was closed or any of its ships struck, saying industrial ships have been nonetheless transiting the strait regardless of Iran’s threats.
Iranian information companies reported explosions in a number of cities throughout the nation of 93 million, together with Sirik, Kargan, Bandar Abbas, Minab, and Karaj close to the strait, in addition to Varamin far to the north, nearer to the Caspian Sea.
U.S. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced the transfer as an effort to power Iran right into a deal to finish the battle.
The strikes would “advance our navy pursuits and likewise improve our diplomatic place,” he informed reporters throughout a go to to Central Command in Florida.
“We’ll strike them exhausting tonight, and hopefully Iran makes a superb resolution,” he stated. “If we have to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs.”
America and Iran have traded hearth a number of instances for the reason that tentative ceasefire took maintain, whilst negotiators have unsuccessfully sought to finish the conflict, now in its fourth month.
Trump has repeatedly stated a deal is shut, although there was no signal of a breakthrough, whereas additionally threatening to renew bombing.
Early on Wednesday, the U.S. navy focused air defenses and radar websites across the Strait of Hormuz after Monday’s downing of a U.S. assault helicopter close to the strategic waterway.
Iran responded with missile and drone assaults on U.S. basesin Jordan, Kuwait and Bahrain. A U.S. official stated there was no vital injury.
Iran accused the U.S. of putting reservoirs that provided ingesting water to 10 villages and violating worldwide legislation.
“This isn’t collateral injury – it’s a calculated conflict crime and a flagrant violation of human rights,” stated international ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghei.
The Pentagon didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The conflict has killed 1000’s and disrupted roughly a fifth of worldwide provide of crude oil and liquefied pure fuel, sending costs sharply increased.
Iran has blocked site visitors by the Strait of Hormuz, whereas the U.S. has maintained its personal blockade on Iranian ports.
The battle has change into a political headache for the White Home, with polls displaying Trump’s approval scores sinking amid voter anger over excessive gasoline costs.
Some Republicans have brazenly fearful that the conflict’s unpopularity may price them management of Congress in November’s midterm elections.
FIGHTING IN LEBANON CONTINUES
Combating continued in a parallel conflict in Lebanon between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.
Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed at the least 13 folks on Wednesday, Lebanese safety sources stated, whereas Hezbollah claimed recent assaults towards Israeli forces.
The Israeli navy stated two “launches” have been recognized falling adjoining to an space the place Israeli troops are working in southern Lebanon, after sirens sounded in a number of areas of northern Israel early on Thursday.
Tehran’s calls for embrace an finish to Israel’s assaults in Lebanon, the lifting of sanctions on Iran, the discharge of billions of {dollars} in frozen belongings, andrecognitionof its management of the strait.
Trump says Iran should finish its restrictions on delivery by Hormuz. He additionally says any peace deal should guarantee Iran can’t develop a nuclear weapon.Iran denies any such ambition.
(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Lincoln Feast; Modifying by Clarence Fernandez)
