The United States launched airstrikes in Iran for the 11th consecutive night late Tuesday, escalating a conflict that has centered on control of the vital Strait of Hormuz waterway. U.S. Central Command (Centcom) stated the strikes were intended to degrade Iran's capacity to threaten commercial shipping.

These renewed hostilities follow an agreement for a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. reached in April. However, fighting resumed last week, with both nations vying for dominance over the crucial maritime passage. Centcom detailed that U.S. forces targeted Iranian military operations centers, maritime capabilities, aircraft hangars, drone storage, and logistics infrastructure.

Iranian state media reported the activation of air defenses in the capital, Tehran, and confirmed explosions in several cities, including Tabriz, Chabahar, Konarak, and Bushehr, the location of Iran's sole nuclear power plant. Iran has warned of retaliation, particularly after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that a strike on an underground nuclear site near Natanz was imminent.

Centcom accused Iran of attacking over 30 commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz during the past three months, actions that have endangered mariners and challenged freedom of navigation. The command asserted that the waterway remains open for commercial transit.

Adding to regional tensions, Kuwait's army reported engaging drone attacks from Iran early Wednesday. Bahrain and Jordan also announced they had intercepted drone and missile strikes. These events underscore the widening scope of the conflict beyond direct U.S.-Iran engagements.

President Trump, speaking at the White House, declared that the U.S. would "be hitting that area pretty soon, and very heavily," referring to the suspected undeclared enrichment facility at the underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain. He indicated that Iran would be unable to prevent such an action.

In response, Iran's Khatam Al-Anbiya military command stated that an attack on its nuclear facilities would be viewed as an "expansion of war in the region." State-run broadcaster IRIB reported that Iran threatened strikes on "all the interests of America, the allies and supporters."

The conflict also involves Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. President Trump also threatened action against the Houthis if they followed through on a threatened blockade of Saudi ports. A Houthi official had announced the closure of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key Red Sea gateway, to Saudi vessels. This move could further disrupt global oil shipments, which have already seen significant price fluctuations due to regional instability.