WASHINGTON / DUBAI – The United States and Iran fought their biggest exchange of fire since July on Wednesday, with American forces striking Revolutionary Guard sites along Iran’s southern coast and Tehran firing missiles and drones at U.S. interests across the Gulf.
U.S. Central Command said it hit IRGC air defenses, radar, maritime assets, mine-laying capabilities, and communications after what it called recent Iranian attempts against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and American troops. Iranian media reported strikes near the strait, including areas around Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, and Qeshm.
The Iranian Red Crescent said four people, including a child, were killed and more than 50 injured when shrapnel from a U.S. strike hit a home hosting a wedding celebration in Sirik County. A U.S. Navy captain speaking for Centcom told the BBC the military was aware of those reports and said, “The US military never targets civilians, unlike the IRGC.”
Iran answered overnight into Wednesday with ballistic missiles and drones toward U.S. sites in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Iranian state media said. Jordan’s armed forces said they intercepted 13 ballistic missiles, destroying 10; three fell in remote areas with no deaths or injuries. Kuwait said its air defenses were responding. Asian and European stocks tumbled as oil prices jumped toward levels last seen in July.
The flare-up ends weeks of relative quiet after President Trump halted an intense July bombing campaign. Both sides have traded fire on shipping in and around the strait, which normally carries about a fifth of the world’s oil.
