The United States launched a fresh round of airstrikes on Iran early on Sunday, shortly after the US military confirmed two American service members had been killed in Jordan. Iran answered almost immediately, sending drones against two US military bases in Kuwait.
Iran’s armed forces have attacked a US ammunition depot at Camp Udairi and Patriot missile radar systems and air surveillance equipment at Ali Al Salem Air Base with large-scale kamikaze drone strikes, state television said.
The exchange followed a warning from Iran’s Supreme Leader that Washington would pay a price for what he called an attempt to further escalate the conflict, a warning that came just before the latest US strikes went ahead.
The operation began at 6 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) and was ordered by President Donald Trump, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said. CENTCOM said the mission was twofold: continuing to stop Iran’s power to threaten commercial shipping by the Strait of Hormuz, and retaliating against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who were guilty for the attack that killed U.S. personnel in Jordan last night.
CENTCOM said after the strikes were completed, additionally they had pointed out Iranian coastal surveillance systems and air defence sites, but did not give more operational detail.
Iranian news channels reported strikes in multiple locations. Mehr News channel said the US attack near Sirik in southern Iran caused no casualties or damage to infrastructure. Tasnim News Agency reported that US forces also hit an area near Shadegan, near the Iraqi border. At least six missiles reportedly hit Qeshm Island.
CENTCOM said the two US deaths happened on Friday and a third service member remains unaccounted for. That brings the total number of American personnel killed since the beginning of the US-Israeli campaign against Iran to 16, and more than 420 injuries reported so far.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to the fallen troops in a post on X, saying their sacrifice “only stiffens our resolve”.
The exchange comes after a broader escalation on Saturday, when Iran expanded its retaliation to strike US allies across the Gulf and in Jordan, after American strikes had already targeted Iranian bridges, power infrastructure and other strategic sites.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said in a statement carried through official channels and state media that Washington’s recent actions showed that President Trump’s commitments were “utterly worthless and devoid of credibility”. He warned the US should expect even heavier losses and humiliation if the confrontation continues.
Major General Mohsen Rezaei, a top military official, said Tehran would respond more dangerously if US strikes continued, additionally that Iran was no longer stopping itself to proportional retaliation and was ready to launch full scale offensive operations again.
