US-Iran Hostilities Escalate with 13th Night of Strikes and Retaliation

US-Iran hostilities stretch into 13th night

Two weeks after an interim truce effectively collapsed, bringing renewed escalation to the conflict, the United States launched overnight airstrikes on Iran into Thursday, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile attacks targeting neighbouring Arab countries hosting US military bases. The US carried out another wave of missile strikes late Thursday and early Friday, marking the 13th consecutive night of attacks. Iranian state media reported that missiles struck Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz on both nights. The strategic waterway, now virtually closed to commercial shipping, has emerged as the focal point of the conflict, which is well into its fifth month and has already claimed thousands of lives while fuelling fears of a global economic slowdown.

'All damages will be paid for by Iranian money,' says Trump

US president Donald Trump on Thursday said any damage to ships and cargo resulting from the ongoing conflict with Iran would be paid for using Iranian assets held under Washington's control. "Please let this statement serve to represent, until further notice, that from this point forth, any and all damages done to Ships, Cargo, or anything related thereto, will be paid for by Iranian Money that the United States has in its possession, and controls. These damages may be very substantial but, nevertheless, this is the fair and equitable thing to do. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The latest Truth Social post came hours after Trump on Thursday said that Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, adding that Washington was doing "extremely well" as the conflict between the two countries continued.

Iran targets US bases in Gulf

Iran said it targeted US missile systems, weapons depots and fuel storage facilities in Jordan, along with American military positions in Kuwait, in its latest round of retaliatory strikes. Jordan's military said it intercepted four Iranian missiles and six drones over the past 24 hours, adding that all but one missile were successfully brought down. The remaining missile landed in an uninhabited area, causing no reported casualties. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they struck a US electronic warfare unit at the Al-Adiri base in Kuwait, saying the attack caused unspecified casualties. The strike, they said, was in retaliation for overnight US attacks on Iran's Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq. Iranian military spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Akraminia said Tehran would continue its retaliatory operations as long as the United States persisted with attacks on Iranian infrastructure and coastal regions, according to Iranian state television. However, neither the United States nor Kuwaiti authorities have reported any casualties or damage at the base.