NEW DELHI: The United States has launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Iranian military targets, marking a major escalation in the ongoing West Asia conflict after an attempted Iranian missile attack on a US military base in Jordan. The operation came after President Donald Trump vowed a "powerful response" to what Washington described as an unprovoked attack by Iran-backed forces.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the strikes lasted nearly two hours and targeted dozens of sites, including command-and-control facilities, missile and drone infrastructure, coastal surveillance systems, and maritime assets linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Explosions were reported in several Iranian locations, including Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Kish, Bushehr and Abadan.

Iranian media confirmed explosions in southern Iran and accused the United States of widening the conflict. Iraqi authorities also condemned strikes on Iran-backed militia positions in Iraq, reporting casualties among members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces. Tehran warned that any further attacks would invite a stronger response, raising fears of a broader regional confrontation.

The renewed military action has further diminished hopes for diplomatic negotiations to ease tensions. The escalating conflict has also renewed concerns over the security of key shipping routes in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global energy supplies, with oil prices rising amid fears of prolonged instability