The United States military carried out a heavy wave of airstrikes against Iranian military targets overnight Wednesday, retaliating for what officials described as a foiled ballistic missile attack on American forces in Jordan.
Central Command said the strikes targeted dozens of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps sites, including command centers, missile and drone facilities, and coastal defense installations across southern Iran. Iranian state media reported multiple explosions in the region.
Regional fallout spreads
The strikes came less than 24 hours after Iran launched a surprise attack involving multiple ballistic missiles aimed at US bases across the Middle East. Jordan's armed forces said they shot down five Iranian missiles before they could reach their targets. In Kuwait, an Iranian missile struck a building owned by a Chinese company, killing one person, according to local authorities.
Iraq called the developments a 'flagrant violation of its sovereignty' after airstrikes hit a Popular Mobilization Forces base near Mosul. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled his first official trip to Saudi Arabia in protest.
War costs mount
The escalation comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before Congress that the Iran war has cost the United States $37.5 billion so far, with the Pentagon seeking billions more in funding for ongoing operations. The hearing was disrupted by protests and a heated exchange between lawmakers.
President Trump has threatened to hit key Iranian infrastructure if attacks continue. The US military said it is prepared to sustain operations at an elevated tempo, though questions remain about the long-term strategy in the region.