Iran war flares up on two fronts as Trump issues fresh threat

US President Donald Trump said the US would respond forcefully to an overnight Iranian attack on American bases in Jordan and the UAE. He told Fox News that "we're going to hit them hard" and that "there will be a response." According to Trump, US air defences intercepted all but one of the Iranian missiles, which was allowed to pass because it wasn't set to hit anything "significant." Jordan's military said it had intercepted eight missiles.

The attack came after the US launched missiles and drones at Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it had taken "limited, precise action" after detecting Iranian preparations to lay new mines in the strait. Trump also said US sanctions on Iran were "kicking in really strongly," adding that Iran was eager for talks, but questioning whether its leaders could be trusted to reach a deal.

Trump described Iran as a "failed nation," claiming its military and economy had been devastated and its leadership was incapable of governing. He wrote on Truth Social that "Iran is officially a failed nation. IT IS DEAD!" A senior Iranian source described the overnight hostilities as a "limited and contained confrontation" but added that Tehran would deliver a harsh response if attacked again, according to The Korea Times.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Hill, The National UAE, The Korea Times, Al-Monitor, Middle East Eye — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.