US-Iran conflict escalates with new strikes and missile attacks

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US-Iran tensions have sharply escalated after US forces struck Iranian launch sites on Larak Island, an operation that Iran says killed and injured both fighters and civilians and that it has branded as an act of aggression.[5][12][15] In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced ballistic missile strikes on two US airbases in Jordan, framing them as retaliation for the US attack and warning of a continued campaign if Washington does not pull back.[5][12][13] The exchange of strikes marks a dangerous new phase in the conflict, coming after weeks of intermittent hostilities and sparking concern that the confrontation could broaden into a wider regional war affecting key energy routes and security partnerships across the Middle East.[9][11][12] US Central Command has publicly rejected some Iranian claims about attacks in the Strait of Hormuz as aggression while simultaneously preparing for further contingencies, and military leaders in Washington are reportedly warning against extending the war even as political rhetoric hardens.[12][13] With Iran’s president heading to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit and US allies watching closely, the crisis is rapidly becoming a central test of global diplomacy and regional stability.[12][5]

Sources: AnadoluAgency, Reuters, BBC, WebIndia123, 1stHeadlines, Bloomberg