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Heavy strikes widen conflict
The United States launched a “heavy wave” of strikes against Iran after an Iranian missile attack on American forces in the Middle East, with U.S. Central Command saying it hit “dozens” of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets over two hours.
“redirected 24 commercial vessels since restarting a blockade on Iranian ports earlier this month”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed and that “the aggressor will be punished today,” while Jordan said it intercepted five Iranian missiles targeting its territory early Thursday.
In Egypt, drone strikes at the Mediterranean port of Damietta sparked fires on two natural gas vessels, and the origin of the strike remained unknown in CBS News’ account.
The NBC News report said Saudi Arabia confirmed it joined the U.S. strikes Wednesday targeting Iran-backed militias inside Iraq, killing at least 20 fighters and six Iranian advisers, as the conflict drew in more countries and raised risks for regional energy supplies.
Debate, denials, and vows
In Washington, a Senate vote to limit President Trump’s war powers failed again, with the resolution brought by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand losing 49-50, and three Republicans voting in favor while one Democrat voted against.
The Guardian reported Democrats demanded answers over treatment of wounded U.S. soldiers after a March drone strike in Kuwait, with a letter to defense secretary Pete Hegseth led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Pat Ryan posing 23 questions over the 1 March strike on a U.S. logistics hub at the port of Shuaiba.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned of Israeli “false flag” operations targeting regional stability, saying Egypt is an important partner whose security is a top priority for Tehran.
At the same time, the U.S. rejected Iranian claims about damage to U.S. aircraft, with CBS News saying it rejected several claims by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including an assertion that three U.S. F-35 stealth fighters were destroyed.
What’s at stake next
The U.S. said it has redirected 24 commercial vessels since restarting a blockade on Iranian ports earlier this month, and it said it has boarded two ships accused of violating the blockade and fired at two other ships to disable them.
“redirected 24 commercial vessels since restarting a blockade”
CNN reported vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained heavily depressed, with MarineTraffic data showing at least 15 commercial ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours and vessel traffic through the Strait averaging about 120 crossings per day before the war.
In parallel, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Mahan Air, Iran’s biggest airline, and CBS News quoted the Treasury statement saying Mahan Air has “long played a central role in enabling the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).”
The BBC said the conflict’s expansion included Egypt being directly drawn in for the first time during the war, after the Egyptian government said a fire at a port on Wednesday had been caused by a drone attack.
