US launches new strikes on Iran after Trump and Hegseth threaten 'hard attacks' over nuclear deal
The United States launched a new wave of strikes on Iranian targets overnight Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned of 'hard attacks' if Iran refused to reach an agreement.
The overnight strikes
The United States launched a new series of strikes on targets in Iran during the night of Wednesday to Thursday, according to a statement from U.S. Central Command posted on X. The military command described the operation as a response to what it called Iran's unjustified and ongoing aggression. The strikes followed a direct warning issued just hours earlier by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The warning from Washington
Before the strikes commenced, both Trump and Hegseth had publicly signaled that military action was imminent. Hegseth stated that the US would bomb 'important facilities' if Iran did not come to an agreement. The specific nature of the agreement sought was not detailed in the initial reports, but the rhetoric marked a sharp escalation in tensions.
Decision-making in the Situation Room
President Trump was in the White House Situation Room on Wednesday to discuss the new attacks on Iran, Axios reported. A source cited by the news site indicated that the strikes could be fierce but of short duration. This suggests a planned, limited operation rather than an open-ended campaign, though the full scope remains unclear.
The Strait of Hormuz flashpoint
Violence between the US and Iran had recently flared after an American Apache helicopter was downed over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump blamed Iran for the incident. However, subsequent investigations did not determine whether the helicopter was intentionally targeted, leaving the exact circumstances of the trigger event ambiguous.
