United States military struck at least 13 Iranian cities early Sunday, hitting air‑defence systems, radars, missile launch pads and naval vessels, while Iran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles and drones at several American bases across the region, Iranian state media reported. The attacks also hit the Strait of Hormuz area and left explosions audible in cities such as Bandar Abbas, Kermanshah, Qeshm, Ahvaz and Sirik. The US action was ordered by President Trump, Central Command said, targeting dozens of Iranian facilities. In response, Iran also closed the strategic Hormuz waterway, stepping up pressure over a disputed US‑Iran memorandum. The strikes hit bases in Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait, damaging ammunition depots, fuel tanks and air‑defence systems.
According to experts, the combined US and Iranian actions mark a new level of direct confrontation after months of proxy clashes, raising the risk of a broader regional war. Military analysts note that the destruction of Patriot systems in Kuwait and the damage to the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain could weaken America’s defensive umbrella in the Gulf, while Tehran’s use of drones and ballistic missiles demonstrates its growing precision strike capability. Economists warn that heightened tension could disrupt oil shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which handles about 20 % of global crude, potentially pushing prices higher in the short term.
Online users in Iran and the United States expressed divergent views. Iranian social media users praised the retaliatory strikes as a rightful stand against US aggression, while many American commentators warned about the escalation and its humanitarian costs. The two sides also shared videos of explosions and fires, fueling a wave of speculation about future retaliation.
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