The United States initiated a ninth consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, marking an escalation following the deaths of US service members in a recent attack in Jordan. The strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump, aim to degrade Iran's military capabilities, particularly those used to target commercial vessels and civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command stated that the operations are intended to "swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces" responsible for attacks on American troops.
The retaliatory actions come after two US service members were killed in Jordan on Friday, with a third service member dying in Iraq on Saturday due to an unexploded ordnance from an Iranian drone. The US has reported 17 service member deaths since the conflict began. Meanwhile, Iran has claimed at least 50 fatalities and 517 injuries from the latest US strikes. The US military has targeted Iranian coastal surveillance and air defense facilities, maritime capabilities, and missile and drone storage sites, as well as critical infrastructure like bridges, water desalination plants, and electrical facilities.
The ongoing conflict has significantly impacted the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil supplies. While the US Energy Secretary Chris Wright attempted to assuage concerns about the strait's closure, stating bypass pipelines can handle the flow, data from firms like Kpler indicates a drastic reduction in vessel crossings. Average daily transits have dropped from nearly 140 before the war to as low as eight on Thursday and three on Friday. The US has also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, redirecting five ships and disabling one. Gas prices in the US have seen an increase, with the national average rising to over $3.99 per gallon from $3.87 a week prior, and oil futures gaining 4.5% to settle at $82.49, their highest since mid-June.
