U.S. Launches Major Airstrikes on Iran as Conflict Expands to Regional Bases

The conflict between the United States and Iran escalated sharply over the last 24 hours as the U.S. military launched two distinct waves of airstrikes targeting Iranian missile bases and coastal facilities near the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM confirmed a seven-hour operation aimed at diminishing threats to commercial shipping, while Iranian officials reported at least seven troop fatalities and 260 injuries following strikes on army barracks. In a significant strategic shift, reports indicate the Trump administration is now reviewing plans for potential ground troop deployments to seize Kharg Island and targeting the Pickaxe Mountain underground nuclear facility. In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intensified its regional retaliation, launching missile strikes against U.S. military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan early Thursday. Tehran has further threatened to halt all Middle East energy exports, including those from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while vowing to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf stated the country is prepared for a "fuller military confrontation" following what Tehran views as a violation of prior interim agreements. Diplomatically, the situation has reached a standstill after President Trump reversed a brief proposal to charge a 20% "security fee" for transit, instead reimposing a total naval blockade. President Trump issued a new ultimatum via Fox News, warning that the situation would get "really bad" next week with potential strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. Iranian foreign ministry officials have dismissed the possibility of new negotiations, stating the nation remains focused exclusively on defense.