US launches second round of strikes on Iran as regional tensions escalate

Article excerpt

The US military launched two separate waves of airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday, targeting cruise missile storage and launch sites on Greater Tunb Island in the Strait of Hormuz and other Iranian military positions. President Trump directed the strikes, which marked an intensification of military action in one of the world's most economically vital shipping corridors. Iranian officials reported at least 30 killed and more than 260 wounded across the country, including casualties at an army barracks. In response, Iran struck US military targets in Gulf states and threatened to halt all energy exports from the region, raising the specter of a collapse in an already fragile ceasefire. The US simultaneously reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. Oil prices jumped to $87 a barrel as traders absorbed the risk of further disruption to regional energy supplies, with both sides now exchanging direct threats over the coming days.