US President Donald Trump escalates Iran conflict with new airstrikes

The United States carried out its eleventh consecutive night of air attacks on Iran, striking military command centres, naval facilities, drone depots and logistics sites. The strikes were intended to curb Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global oil and gas trade.

President Donald Trump, speaking with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, warned that the United States would soon target the “Pickaxe Mountain” nuclear‑related complex in central Iran, describing the forthcoming raid as “with full force.” Separate reports indicated that Iran has responded with attacks on Kuwaiti power‑generation and desalination plants, and that Iranian forces have activated air‑defence systems in Tehran and other cities.

U.S. officials cautioned that dwindling stocks of air‑defence interceptors and long‑range precision munitions could limit the sustainability of the campaign, a concern echoed by senior Pentagon insiders. The conflict follows the killing of three U.S. soldiers in a Jordanian air‑base raid and a series of missile and drone attacks across the region.