Iran-US war latest: Tehran attacks 18 US airbases across Middle East after Trump orders major new strikes
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The volatile US-Iran conflict has violently escalated, with Tehran unleashing a wave of ballistic missile and drone attacks on 18 American airbases across the Middle East after President Donald Trump ordered fresh strikes following the downing of a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth grim warning of the military being 'busy tonight' proved prophetic, as Iranian state media confirmed the retaliatory barrages targeted critical US military installations in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain, dramatically raising the stakes in a conflict already roiling global stability. This aggressive exchange shatters an already fragile ceasefire that had been nominally in effect since April 8, 2026, stemming from the broader '2026 Iran War' which commenced in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iranian sites. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed significant damage and destruction of US fighter jets at targeted bases like Al-Azraq in Jordan, though US officials reported minimal impact and high interception rates. Crucially, Iran has now declared the Strait of Hormuz closed to all vessels, including oil tankers, a move poised to severely disrupt global energy markets already reeling from protracted regional instability. President Trump has responded with threats of further 'very hard' strikes and ominously suggested taking control of Kharg Island, Iran vital oil export hub, indicating a potential broadening of US objectives beyond mere retaliation. The immediate aftermath will likely see heightened military readiness across CENTCOM area of responsibility, with potential for further US and Iranian strikes in a dangerous tit-for-tat. International diplomatic efforts, including those by the UN Security Council, which previously condemned Iranian strikes, face immense pressure to de-escalate as the conflict risks spiraling beyond the region. Global markets will closely watch developments around the Strait of Hormuz for any impact on oil prices and supply chains, while regional allies of both sides brace for potential broader engagement. The critical question remains whether any party can or will pull back from the brink of all-out war.