US Launches Fresh Strikes on Iran as Regional Conflict Widens After Attack on Egypt Port

CAIRO: The United States launched a fresh wave of military strikes against Iran on Thursday, targeting dozens of sites linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), in retaliation for Iranian missile attacks on U.S. forces in the Middle East, as the conflict expanded across the region.

According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the two-hour operation struck command centres, drone facilities, missile infrastructure and other military targets. Washington described the operation as a “powerful response” to Iranian missile launches a day earlier against American forces stationed in Jordan.

The latest escalation came after a drone struck a U.S.-owned gas storage tanker at Egypt’s Mediterranean port of Damietta, causing a fire. Egypt confirmed the blaze but did not identify the source of the attack, while maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the vessel had been hit by a drone.

President Donald Trump warned that the United States would respond forcefully to Iranian attacks, stating that Tehran would face severe consequences if it continued targeting U.S. personnel and interests in the region.

Iran has condemned the U.S. strikes and vowed to retaliate, while regional tensions have intensified with missile interceptions in Jordan and attacks involving Iran-backed groups in Iraq. The widening conflict has raised fears of a broader regional war affecting Gulf security and international shipping routes.

The renewed hostilities have also heightened concerns over global energy supplies, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining a focal point of instability due to its importance for international oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.