Video shared widely online appears to capture the moment Iranian missiles struck an airbase in Jordan, an attack that killed two American service members and left another missing on Friday. A separate U.S. service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday, underscoring the deadly risks facing American troops even as they are not deployed inside Iran.
The conflict continued to ripple through energy markets Monday, with the average price of U.S. gasoline climbing back to $4 a gallon and benchmark Brent crude pushing above $90 a barrel, adding pressure to an already deepening global energy crisis.
U.S. launches ninth consecutive night of strikes on Iran
U.S. Central Command said Monday’s operation struck a range of targets, including “Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and communications networks.”
Iranian officials said Sunday that the latest wave of U.S. strikes had killed at least 50 people and wounded 517 others. Since the war began on Feb. 28, 17 U.S. service members have died.
The U.S. military said the most recent American death occurred Saturday in Iraq during the “controlled detonation” of an Iranian drone that had been brought down.
“We hit them very hard again tonight,” Trump said, adding that the strikes were carried out “in honor” of the soldiers who were killed.
Another ship burns in the strait as Iran targets tankers
As the strikes began, a vessel caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile near the coastline of Oman, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The crew abandoned the vessel, which was adrift and still ablaze hours later, the UKMTO said.
The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. The Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the strait.
US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates
The United States targeted Iran with a new round of airstrikes early Monday after announcing the death of another American service member, hitting around a northwestern city believed to be home to underground missile bases. Iran responded by attacking Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, and Kuwait.
Step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war. Last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled. Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people.
Meanwhile, benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict. An average gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. rose to $4, putting more pressure on American wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.
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