US and Iran Trade Strikes as Middle East Tensions Escalate
The US and Iran have escalated their conflict, trading strikes on each other's military bases. According to a US official, American forces struck Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island in what appears to be a repeated pattern of tit-for-tat attacks.
Iran responded with a large missile barrage, launching over 30 ballistic missiles from multiple sites, including Yazd, Khomein, Zanjan, Qom, Isfahan, Khorramabad, and Tabriz. At least 20 of these missiles targeted the Al Salti and Prince Hassan air bases in Jordan, one of the largest waves in months.
Explosions were reported at both bases, with initial accounts describing a direct impact and cluster munitions at Muwaffaq Salti. The US fired dozens of Patriot interceptors in response, but several impacts still got through.