The US military unleashed a massive wave of airstrikes against Iran late Saturday, hitting 140 targets after Tehran closed the Strait of Hormuz and attacked a commercial vessel. The dramatic escalation has the world watching closely as tensions explode in the Middle East.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made the stakes clear on X, posting, “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay.” The strikes, which began at 7:15 p.m. ET, targeted missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition storage, and communication networks, according to US Central Command.
This isn’t the first round of retaliation. CENTCOM reports that over 300 targets inside Iran have been hit since the regime first broke a fragile cease-fire on July 6 by launching missiles at commercial ships in the strait. One civilian crew member is missing, and the vessel suffered significant engine room damage.
Iran also reportedly targeted other ships navigating the waterway, and the US shot down several drones, an official told the Wall Street Journal. The US vowed Tehran would pay a “heavy cost,” with President Trump directing the operation.
“Iran was provided yet another opportunity to demonstrate adherence to the Memorandum of Understanding after being held accountable for earlier attacks on commercial vessels but has again failed,” CENTCOM stated on X.
Explosions rocked southern Iranian coastal cities like Bushehr, Chabahar, and Asaluyeh early Sunday local time, according to Iranian state media. Military buildings were reportedly hit in Bushehr, and a site in Deyr was also struck.
Strikes reached deeper into Iran, including the city of Kerman, 300 miles from the coast, CNN reported. The regime responded by launching waves of attacks on US allies in the region.
The UAE Defense Ministry announced Iran targeted the country with missiles and drones, posting on X, “The UAE’s air defenses are currently engaging with missile attacks and incoming drones from Iran.” Jordan’s Prince Hassan Air Force base was also hit by ballistic missiles, according to Iranian state media.
Qatar’s air defenses intercepted a missile attack, and alarm sirens rang out in Bahrain, officials said. The IRGC claimed to have fired a “warning shot” at the Cyprus-flagged ship, then declared the Strait of Hormuz closed “until further notice.”
This all comes after the Trump administration issued an ultimatum to Tehran on Friday, demanding the waterway remain open. Diplomats from both sides tried to revive negotiations, with Trump posting on Truth Social that Iran asked to continue “talks,” but he declared, “the Cease Fire is OVER!”
Earlier Saturday, Iranian and Omani representatives met in Muscat to discuss dividing the strait into two routes, one under Iranian control and the other managed by Oman, CNN reported. US officials cast doubt on a nuclear deal if the waterway stays closed.
Enmity has intensified, with Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei vowing to avenge his father’s death, calling the US “criminal, disgraceful murderers.” Trump told The Post he left instructions for Iran’s “obliteration” if he is assassinated.
With the region on edge and no clear end in sight, what happens next could reshape global oil markets and military alliances for years to come.
