US and Iran Trade Strikes, Trump Threatens More

The United States and Iran traded air attacks for a second consecutive day on Thursday, with President Donald Trump threatening further strikes unless Tehran immediately agreed to a peace deal.

The escalation followed the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week. The US military said its latest strikes hit Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defense sites in response to Tehran’s continued aggression.

Iran said it had launched counter-attacks on US military targets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan. It also accused Washington of striking reservoirs that supplied drinking water to 10 villages and violating international law.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strikes as a way to strengthen Washington’s military and diplomatic position. “If we need to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs”, he said.

The dispute has also focused on the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas trade. Iran warned it would fire on vessels trying to pass through the waterway, while US Central Command denied that the strait was closed or that any US ships had been hit.

(reuters, mja)