US launches fresh strikes on Iran as conflict widens after Egypt port attack

The United States launched fresh strikes on Iran after attacks on U.S. forces and a tanker in Egypt, escalating regional tensions and raising fears of broader conflict.

WEBDESK – MEDIABITES

The United States has intensified its military campaign against Iran with a new wave of strikes targeting Revolutionary Guard facilities after attacks on American forces and a drone strike at Egypt’s Damietta port. The latest escalation has rattled global energy markets and heightened concerns over security across the Middle East.

WASHINGTON: The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran late Wednesday, targeting military infrastructure linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), after President Donald Trump vowed retaliation for Iranian attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East.

The strikes mark the latest escalation in a conflict that has steadily expanded across the region over the past five months.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), American forces struck dozens of targets, including military command centers, missile and drone facilities, coastal defense systems, and maritime assets associated with the IRGC.

The military action came hours after Trump said at the White House that Washington would respond decisively to Iran’s recent missile attacks on U.S. forces stationed in Jordan.

“So it’s our turn,” Trump told reporters, adding that the United States would “hit them very hard” while insisting his administration remained open to a diplomatic solution with Tehran.

Drone strike hits tanker in Egypt
The conflict widened further after a drone struck a U.S.-owned floating gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey.

Egypt’s Petroleum Ministry confirmed that a fire had broken out at the port but did not identify the cause or mention a drone attack. No group immediately claimed responsibility, and authorities are continuing their investigation.

The incident has heightened concerns that the conflict is spreading beyond the Gulf region and increasingly threatening critical maritime infrastructure.

Iran-U.S. confrontation deepens
Iran confirmed it had launched missiles at U.S. military bases in Jordan and targeted vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important energy shipping lanes.

The latest exchange follows earlier U.S. and Saudi strikes against Iran-aligned groups in eastern Iraq, further broadening the geographic scope of the conflict.

Iran has also rejected an Omani proposal for joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz, reaffirming its position over the strategic waterway.

Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Iran is expected to receive up to 400 Chinese-made shoulder-fired air defense missile systems in the coming weeks. China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the report as “completely groundless.”

Oil prices jump amid shipping disruption
Global energy markets reacted sharply to the latest escalation.

Brent crude surged nearly 8% before easing slightly during Asian trading, while U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also recorded one of its strongest daily gains since the conflict began.

Although some commercial shipping has gradually resumed through the Strait of Hormuz, vessel traffic remains well below normal levels after months of disruption.

Ship-tracking data showed that a QatarEnergy-controlled liquefied natural gas tanker successfully exited the Strait overnight—the first such vessel to do so since early July—offering a tentative sign that limited maritime activity is returning.

U.S. tightens security measures
Reuters reported that some U.S. troops deployed in Jordan may be required to surrender their mobile phones due to growing operational security concerns.

According to sources, Admiral Brad Cooper, the top U.S. military commander in the Middle East, warned that Iran has been using publicly available photos, videos and social media posts to assess the effectiveness of its attacks.

The current conflict began in February after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran. A ceasefire reached in June later collapsed, reigniting fighting centered around the Strait of Hormuz and triggering one of the region’s most serious security crises in recent years.