WASHINGTON — The United States launched a new wave of airstrikes against Iran on Sunday, targeting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in retaliation for the killing of American troops in Jordan.The strikes are part of a weeklong military campaign that began with a confrontation over control of the Strait of Hormuz and has since expanded across the Middle East.According to U.S. Central Command, the latest operation targeted IRGC coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime assets, and missile and drone storage sites. It marked the first time Washington explicitly said it had struck the Revolutionary Guard, the powerful military force that oversees Iran’s ballistic missile program.The U.S. military released footage showing fighter aircraft and Tomahawk cruise missiles striking targets, including sites in mountainous terrain where Iran is believed to house missile bases and military infrastructure.The latest operation follows an Iranian attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan that killed two American service members, left one missing and wounded four others, according to the U.S. military. Since the conflict began, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and more than 430 injured.Iran has not released an overall assessment of military losses from the U.S. campaign, now in its eighth day. Iranian authorities said at least 50 people were killed and more than 500 wounded in the latest U.S. strikes.The fighting has expanded beyond Iran and the United States. Washington has struck bridges, electrical facilities and other infrastructure inside Iran, while Tehran has retaliated by targeting power and water desalination facilities in Kuwait and launching attacks against several U.S.-allied countries across the region.Kuwait and Bahrain activated their air defense systems again on Sunday after warning of incoming Iranian drones and missiles.The United Arab Emirates also condemned Iranian threats against civilian infrastructure after Iranian media warned that Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, along with the ports of Fujairah and Jebel Ali, could become targets if strikes on Iran continued. The UAE Foreign Ministry said attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law and cannot be justified under any circumstances.The Gulf Cooperation Council also condemned Iran’s attacks on civilian infrastructure, with Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi accusing Tehran of committing war crimes.The conflict remains centered on the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passes. The United States has stepped up efforts to pressure Iran by targeting infrastructure linked to the strategic waterway and reimposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports.Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of an “unforgettable” response if U.S. attacks continue, while Tehran announced it was suspending its commitments under the interim agreement aimed at ending the conflict.
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