WASHINGTON — The United States launched a sweeping wave of missile strikes across Iran on Friday, targeting military and strategic sites from the country’s southern coast to its northern Caspian region, following President Donald Trump’s warning of “major military punishment” in response to attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
According to Reuters, the strikes reached targets from Qeshm Island in southern Iran to Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea, marking one of the broadest U.S. military operations against Iran since the conflict sharply escalated earlier this year. The attacks came after Iran-backed Houthi forces intensified assaults on vessels transiting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The White House said the military action was intended to degrade Iran’s ability to support Houthi attacks that have disrupted one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes. Trump had previously warned Tehran that any further attacks on international shipping would be met with a powerful military response.
Reuters reported that U.S. missiles struck multiple locations across Iran, including military installations, naval facilities, drone infrastructure and other strategic targets. The operation extended from the Persian Gulf region to northwestern and northern Iran, underscoring the geographic scale of the campaign. Iranian authorities reported casualties and damage in several areas, although independent verification of the full extent of the destruction was not immediately available.
Iran responded by launching attacks on U.S. military facilities in the Gulf region, including reported strikes on a U.S. base in Kuwait and damage to a U.S. surveillance installation in Bahrain, according to Reuters. Iranian officials also warned that additional retaliatory actions could follow if U.S. operations continue.
The latest escalation follows a series of Houthi missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and oil tankers in the Red Sea. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a vital global shipping corridor connecting the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to the Indian Ocean. Disruptions along the route have raised concerns over global energy supplies and international trade.
Financial markets reacted swiftly to the growing conflict. Brent crude oil climbed above $100 per barrel as traders priced in the risk of prolonged disruptions to Middle East energy exports and maritime commerce. Analysts warned that any sustained interruption to shipping through the Red Sea or the Strait of Hormuz could place additional pressure on global fuel prices and supply chains.
The widening conflict has also intensified political debate in Washington. Some members of Congress have questioned the scope of the president’s military authority, while U.S. allies and international organizations have renewed calls for restraint to prevent a broader regional war.
The United Nations and several governments have urged all parties to pursue diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis, warning that continued military exchanges could threaten regional stability and further disrupt international shipping and global markets.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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