Iran on Thursday threatened to "punish the aggressor" after a heavy wave of U.S. airstrikes hit Tehran overnight. These strikes were in retaliation for missile attacks on American forces in the Middle East, including five missiles fired by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard at a U.S. base in Jordan earlier this week.
The U.S. military conducted two hours of airstrikes late Wednesday against Iran, followed by coordinated strikes with Saudi Arabia on Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The conflict further expanded into Egypt, where two ships near the Suez Canal caught fire after drone attacks believed to be Iranian.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard extended its threat to Gulf nations supporting Washington, warning such countries would "receive a harsh response," according to Iranian state media.
President Trump had warned on Wednesday that the U.S. would "beat the f‑‑‑ing s‑‑‑ out of" Iran, declaring it was the U.S. military’s "turn" to strike. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified last week that the war has cost an estimated $37.5 billion.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the ongoing conflict, noting, "Trump said this war would last a week, but American service members are still getting killed five months later," urging Republican colleagues to support related measures.
The recent escalation raises concerns about the risk of a broader war in the Middle East, even as Washington holds out hope for potential diplomatic negotiations with Tehran.
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