In a further escalation of tensions following a brief operational lull, US forces launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran on Wednesday in response to Tehran's attacks on American military assets a day earlier.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes, which began in the evening, were "a powerful response to yesterday's attempted Iranian attack."
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran fired missiles at US troops stationed in Jordan, while a drone struck a US-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt's Mediterranean port of Damietta. The attacks came after US and Saudi forces carried out strikes against Iran-aligned militant groups in eastern Iraq.
Last week, the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, further heightening regional tensions.
The latest US strikes on Iran followed President Donald Trump's pledge earlier in the day to retaliate for Iran's attacks on American troops.
"So it's our turn," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the United States would "hit them very hard" while maintaining that Washington remained committed to pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Tehran.
Earlier, Iran confirmed that it had launched missiles targeting US assets in Jordan. The barrage marked Tehran's first direct ballistic missile attack on an American military installation since Washington paused its aerial offensive against Iran in an effort to create space for diplomatic engagement.
In remarks to Fox News, Trump vowed a forceful response to any attack on US personnel.
"We're going to beat the f*ing st of them. We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating," Trump said, according to comments relayed by a Fox News correspondent.
Earlier in the week, President Trump had stated that Washington and Tehran were taking part in "good talks" and expressed optimism regarding a potential breakthrough, while reiterating that military manoeuvres would recommence if dialogue collapsed.
"We're having good talks. I think there's a good chance that something could happen, and if it doesn't, we go back to doing what we were doing two days ago," Trump had told reporters.
