US Launches 11th Night of Strikes on Iran, Trump Hints at More

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has launched an 11th consecutive night of airstrikes against military targets in Iran. President Donald Trump signalled that the campaign is far from over, stating the US is not finished and hinting at further heavy strikes, including on the underground Pickaxe Mountain complex near Natanz.

CENTCOM stated the latest strikes, which began on Tuesday night, were designed to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The command noted that Iran has attacked more than 30 commercial vessels in the strait over the past three months, endangering innocent sailors and disrupting freedom of navigation.

In response, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that any attack on its nuclear facilities would be considered an expansion of the war, threatening to retaliate against all US and allied assets. The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed that diplomatic communications with Washington are still ongoing through mediators despite the intensifying conflict.

The escalation has spilled over into neighbouring countries, with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan reporting interceptions of missile and drone attacks. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard confirmed striking a US military facility in Jordan’s Rukban area and claimed to have hit two oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump also warned of action against Houthi militias in Yemen if they proceed with a threatened blockade of Saudi Arabian ports. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed to the Senate that the cost of the war has already reached US$37.5 billion.