The United States and Iran exchange air strikes again after days of tit-for-tat attacks that follow the downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. Multiple outlets report that the U.S. carries out a second round of strikes across Iranian cities, as President Donald Trump warns that Iran will face further attacks unless it agrees to a peace deal. Iran responds with strikes beyond its own territory, with reports that it targets Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
Sources describe the violence as occurring during efforts to negotiate an end to the war, which are described as stuck or “shaky,” and as testing an existing ceasefire that has been undermined by the latest exchanges. Iran insists it will maintain its ability to disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which affects global energy supplies and contributes to higher oil prices, and presents this as leverage in negotiations. Trump also signals that an agreement could be near while reiterating threats of additional force. Several reports say U.S. military statements frame the strikes as targeting sites near or overlooking the Strait, while regional governments report retaliatory actions.
